Which ward in New Forest has the highest planning approval rate?

Ballard at 97.6% based on 41 decisions.

Which ward in New Forest has the lowest planning approval rate?

Downlands & Forest North at 83.1% based on 354 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across New Forest?

There is a 14.5% gap between Ballard and Downlands & Forest North. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in New Forest

Planning outcomes in New Forest are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 14.5% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

8,940 real decisions·22 wards·Updated March 2026

87.7% approved overall. But 1,100 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in New Forest shifts your odds by up to 14.5%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

All 22 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Ballard	41	40	1	97.6%
2	Totton North	177	165	12	93.2%
3	Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley	327	302	25	92.4%
4	Hythe Central	86	79	7	91.9%
5	Totton Central	209	190	19	90.9%
6	Totton South	276	251	25	90.9%
7	Barton & Becton	434	391	43	90.1%
8	Marchwood & Eling	246	221	25	89.8%
9	Hardley, Holbury & North Blackfield	57	51	6	89.5%
10	Hythe South	53	47	6	88.7%
11	Lymington	1,003	885	118	88.2%
12	Ashley, Bashley & Fernhill	75	66	9	88.0%
13	Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood Eas	225	197	28	87.6%
14	Dibden & Dibden Purlieu	220	192	28	87.3%
15	Ringwood North & Ellingham	393	343	50	87.3%
16	Milford & Hordle	765	662	103	86.5%
17	Milton	352	304	48	86.4%
18	Fordingbridge, Godshill & Hyde	510	439	71	86.1%
19	Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne & Netley M	42	36	6	85.7%
20	Ringwood South	532	454	78	85.3%
21	Pennington	421	357	64	84.8%
22	Downlands & Forest North	354	294	60	83.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Ballard but face serious resistance in Downlands & Forest North.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 14.5% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ballard approves 97.6% of applications while Downlands & Forest North approves just 83.1%. 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

1,100 planning applications in New Forest 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.

Check My Postcode First

Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More New Forest planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 8,940 planning decisions in New Forest, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from New Forest Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →