Which ward in Lewes & Eastbourne has the highest planning approval rate?

Seaford South at 98.2% based on 109 decisions.

Which ward in Lewes & Eastbourne has the lowest planning approval rate?

Wivelsfield at 85.5% based on 110 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Lewes & Eastbourne?

There is a 12.7% gap between Seaford South and Wivelsfield. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Lewes & Eastbourne

Planning outcomes in Lewes & Eastbourne are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 12.7% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

1,948 real decisions·18 wards·Updated March 2026

91.5% approved overall. But 166 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Lewes & Eastbourne shifts your odds by up to 12.7%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 18 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Seaford South	109	107	2	98.2%
2	Seaford North	73	71	2	97.3%
3	Seaford Central	93	90	3	96.8%
4	Seaford West	49	47	2	95.9%
5	Peacehaven West	70	65	5	92.9%
6	Ouse Valley & Ringmer	279	258	21	92.5%
7	Kingston	13	12	1	92.3%
8	Seaford East	86	79	7	91.9%
9	Chailey, Barcombe & Hamsey	327	300	27	91.7%
10	Newhaven North	68	62	6	91.2%
11	Plumpton Streat E.Chiltington St John W	87	79	8	90.8%
12	Newick	157	141	16	89.8%
13	Newhaven South	115	103	12	89.6%
14	Peacehaven East	54	48	6	88.9%
15	Peacehaven North	67	59	8	88.1%
16	East Saltdean & Telscombe Cliffs	140	123	17	87.9%
17	Ditchling & Westmeston	22	19	3	86.4%
18	Wivelsfield	110	94	16	85.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Seaford South but face serious resistance in Wivelsfield.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 12.7% gap separates the best and worst wards. Seaford South approves 98.2% of applications while Wivelsfield approves just 85.5%. That's a fundamentally different planning environment.

High volume doesn't mean high approval. Some of the busiest wards aren't the most permissive. The number of applications a ward processes tells you nothing about how likely yours is to succeed.

Ward averages are a starting point, not a guarantee. Your specific outcome depends on your property, your neighbours, your proposal type and the comparable decisions near your address.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

166 planning applications in Lewes & Eastbourne have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Lewes & Eastbourne planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 1,948 planning decisions in Lewes & Eastbourne, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Lewes & Eastbourne Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →