Lincoln planning approval rate

Lincoln council approved 95.3% of planning applications and refused 4.7%, based on 6,781 decisions analysed. Ranked 191st out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

95.3%

overall approval rate

6,781

Decisions analysed

6,463

Approved

318

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in Lincoln? Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.

Approval rate by application type

Different application types have different approval rates in Lincoln. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Full (2,586 decided)

94.0%

Trees (1,499 decided)

94.5%

Other (970 decided)

99.4%

Certificate of Lawfulness (516 decided)

97.7%

Listed Building (360 decided)

98.9%

Advertisement (295 decided)

91.2%

Change of Use (293 decided)

92.8%

Discharge of Conditions (159 decided)

98.7%

Prior Approval (103 decided)

91.3%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Lincoln — mined from 6,781 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (941 decided)

98.3%

HMO (831 decided)

94.8%

Change of Use (Residential) (662 decided)

92.4%

Side Extension (592 decided)

98.8%

Garage / Parking (456 decided)

93.9%

Wraparound Extension (256 decided)

98.4%

New Build (249 decided)

89.2%

Extension (General) (194 decided)

94.8%

Outbuilding (153 decided)

93.5%

Front Extension (115 decided)

99.1%

Dormer (91 decided)

93.4%

Conservatory (88 decided)

98.9%

Flat Conversion (44 decided)

84.1%

Annex (42 decided)

95.2%

Basement (31 decided)

96.8%

Loft Conversion (28 decided)

92.9%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Lincoln. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Carholme (1,210 decided)

95.5%

Hartsholme (876 decided)

92.8%

Park (852 decided)

93.4%

Abbey (839 decided)

94.9%

Minster (779 decided)

98.1%

Boultham (707 decided)

95.9%

Castle (447 decided)

96.6%

Birchwood (302 decided)

93.7%

Moorland (269 decided)

95.5%

Witham (258 decided)

96.5%

Glebe (225 decided)

98.7%

Wards in Lincoln

Carholme

95.5% approval · 1,210 decisions

Hartsholme

92.8% approval · 876 decisions

Park

93.4% approval · 852 decisions

Abbey

94.9% approval · 839 decisions

Minster

98.1% approval · 779 decisions

Boultham

95.9% approval · 707 decisions

Castle

96.6% approval · 447 decisions

Birchwood

93.7% approval · 302 decisions

Moorland

95.5% approval · 269 decisions

Witham

96.5% approval · 258 decisions

Glebe

98.7% approval · 225 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in Lincoln, showing how the council decides real applications.

2026/0110/TCO

G1 Boundary screen - Mixed species: Prune overhanging branches back to boundary · Minster · Tue 03 Mar 2026

Approved

2026/0058/HOU

Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of single storey rear extension · Boultham · Tue 03 Mar 2026

Approved

2025/0698/FUL

Erection of a first floor rear infill extension to 77 and 79 Doddington Road. · Moorland · Fri 27 Feb 2026

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In Lincoln, 1 in 21 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:

✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Lincoln
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Lincoln Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 6,781 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

Newark & Sherwood Nottingham North East Lincolnshire King's Lynn & West Norfolk

Check planning approval patterns — Free