Which ward in North Yorkshire has the highest planning approval rate?

High Harrogate & Kingsley at 97.8% based on 46 decisions.

Which ward in North Yorkshire has the lowest planning approval rate?

Hunmanby & Sherburn at 73.3% based on 60 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across North Yorkshire?

There is a 24.5% gap between High Harrogate & Kingsley and Hunmanby & Sherburn. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in North Yorkshire

Planning outcomes in North Yorkshire are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 24.5% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

3,833 real decisions·45 wards·Updated August 2026

All 45 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	High Harrogate & Kingsley	46	45	1	97.8%
2	Harlow & St. Georges	117	112	5	95.7%
3	Knaresborough East	46	44	2	95.7%
4	Coppice Valley & Duchy	154	147	7	95.5%
5	Stray, Woodlands & Hookstone	164	155	9	94.5%
6	Glusburn, Cross Hills & Sutton-in-Craven	67	63	4	94.0%
7	Ouseburn	153	143	10	93.5%
8	Fairfax & Starbeck	45	42	3	93.3%
9	Knaresborough West	125	115	10	92.0%
10	Spofforth,L Whdl,Tockwith	168	154	14	91.7%
11	Newby	12	11	1	91.7%
12	Aire Valley	116	106	10	91.4%
13	Wathvale & Bishop Monkton	166	151	15	91.0%
14	Killinghall, Hampsthwaite & Saltergate	66	60	6	90.9%
15	Wharfedale	22	20	2	90.9%
16	Seamer	43	39	4	90.7%
17	Masham & Fountains	181	164	17	90.6%
18	Weaponness & Ramshill	93	84	9	90.3%
19	Boroughbridge & Claro	133	120	13	90.2%
20	Settle & Penyghent	91	82	9	90.1%
21	Whitby West	20	18	2	90.0%
22	Ripon Ure Bank & Spa	103	92	11	89.3%
23	Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate	163	145	18	89.0%
24	Bilton & Nidd Gorge	27	24	3	88.9%
25	Mid Craven	86	76	10	88.4%
26	Skipton North & Embsay-with-Eastby	110	97	13	88.2%
27	Oatlands & Pannal	118	104	14	88.1%
28	Skipton West & West Craven	88	77	11	87.5%
29	Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale	135	118	17	87.4%
30	Bentham & Ingleton	108	94	14	87.0%
31	Scalby & the Coast	68	59	9	86.8%
32	Bilton Grange & New Park	37	32	5	86.5%
33	Ripon Minster & Moorside	51	44	7	86.3%
34	Esk Valley & Coast	14	12	2	85.7%
35	Northstead	18	15	3	83.3%
36	Cayton	28	23	5	82.1%
37	Washburn & Birstwith	187	153	34	81.8%
38	Whitby Streonshalh	112	91	21	81.2%
39	Derwent Valley & Moor	32	26	6	81.2%
40	Skipton East & South	31	25	6	80.6%
41	Woodlands	19	15	4	78.9%
42	Falsgrave & Stepney	23	18	5	78.3%
43	Castle	77	58	19	75.3%
44	Filey	47	35	12	74.5%
45	Hunmanby & Sherburn	60	44	16	73.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 24.5% gap separates the best and worst wards. High Harrogate & Kingsley approves 97.8% of applications while Hunmanby & Sherburn approves just 73.3%. 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

426 planning applications in North Yorkshire have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A free, property-specific report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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Planning Approval Rates by Ward in North Yorkshire

Check Planning Approval Patterns in North Yorkshire

All 45 wards ranked

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

What the data tells us

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

More North Yorkshire planning data