New Forest planning approval rate
New Forest council approved 87.7% of planning applications and refused 12.3%, based on 8,940 decisions analysed. Ranked 68th out of 221 councils for strictness.
Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present
87.7%
overall approval rate
Planning in New Forest?
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 New Forest. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in New Forest — mined from 8,940 proposal descriptions.
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within New Forest. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
Lymington (1,003 decided)
88.2%
Milford & Hordle (765 decided)
86.5%
Ringwood South (532 decided)
85.3%
Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde (510 decided)
86.1%
Barton & Becton (434 decided)
90.1%
Pennington (421 decided)
84.8%
Ringwood North & Ellingham (393 decided)
87.3%
Downlands & Forest North (354 decided)
83.1%
Milton (352 decided)
86.4%
Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley (327 decided)
92.4%
Totton South (276 decided)
90.9%
Marchwood & Eling (246 decided)
89.8%
Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood Eas (225 decided)
87.6%
Dibden & Dibden Purlieu (220 decided)
87.3%
Totton Central (209 decided)
90.9%
Totton North (177 decided)
93.2%
Hythe Central (86 decided)
91.9%
Ashley, Bashley & Fernhill (75 decided)
88.0%
Hardley, Holbury & North Blackfield (57 decided)
89.5%
Hythe South (53 decided)
88.7%
Wards in New Forest
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in New Forest, showing how the council decides real applications.
Ground and first floor extension · Hythe Central · Tue 03 Mar 2026
Replacement of the existing timber patio doors and windows for uPVC doors and wi · Marchwood & Eling · Tue 03 Mar 2026
Two-storey rear extension - New roof to include high level roof lights - Alterat · Lymington · Tue 03 Mar 2026
Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →
What gets approved near your property?
In New Forest, 1 in 8 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 New Forest
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Get New Forest Pro Report — £79
Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 8,940 decisions.
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