Which ward in Manchester has the highest planning approval rate?

Deansgate Ward at 93.3% based on 2,003 decisions.

Which ward in Manchester has the lowest planning approval rate?

Moss Side Ward at 73.9% based on 207 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Manchester?

There is a 19.4% gap between Deansgate Ward and Moss Side Ward. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Manchester

Planning outcomes in Manchester are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 19.4% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

13,750 real decisions·32 wards·Updated March 2026

All 32 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Deansgate Ward	2,003	1,869	134	93.3%
2	Hulme Ward	500	465	35	93.0%
3	Sharston Ward	148	137	11	92.6%
4	Piccadilly Ward	1,367	1,257	110	92.0%
5	Ancoats & Beswick Ward	508	467	41	91.9%
6	Brooklands Ward	246	226	20	91.9%
7	Woodhouse Park Ward	321	294	27	91.6%
8	Chorlton Ward	604	553	51	91.6%
9	Didsbury East Ward	613	561	52	91.5%
10	Didsbury West Ward	743	676	67	91.0%
11	Clayton & Openshaw Ward	306	269	37	87.9%
12	Longsight Ward	240	211	29	87.9%
13	Charlestown Ward	145	126	19	86.9%
14	Ardwick Ward	383	331	52	86.4%
15	Baguley Ward	222	191	31	86.0%
16	Levenshulme Ward	264	227	37	86.0%
17	Whalley Range Ward	481	413	68	85.9%
18	Gorton & Abbey Hey Ward	261	223	38	85.4%
19	Chorlton Park Ward	539	459	80	85.2%
20	Crumpsall Ward	385	327	58	84.9%
21	Harpurhey Ward	205	171	34	83.4%
22	Northenden Ward	325	271	54	83.4%
23	Withington Ward	368	305	63	82.9%
24	Higher Blackley Ward	199	165	34	82.9%
25	Cheetham Ward	453	372	81	82.1%
26	Burnage Ward	301	247	54	82.1%
27	Moston Ward	228	185	43	81.1%
28	Rusholme Ward	354	284	70	80.2%
29	Old Moat Ward	236	187	49	79.2%
30	Fallowfield Ward	227	178	49	78.4%
31	Miles Platting & Newton Heath Ward	362	281	81	77.6%
32	Moss Side Ward	207	153	54	73.9%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Deansgate Ward but face serious resistance in Moss Side Ward.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 19.4% gap separates the best and worst wards. Deansgate Ward approves 93.3% of applications while Moss Side Ward approves just 73.9%. 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

1,665 planning applications in Manchester 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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Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Manchester planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 13,750 planning decisions in Manchester, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Manchester Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →