Which ward in Norwich has the highest planning approval rate?

Lakenham at 94.9% based on 530 decisions.

Which ward in Norwich has the lowest planning approval rate?

University at 89.3% based on 503 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Norwich?

There is a 5.6% gap between Lakenham and University. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Norwich

Planning outcomes in Norwich are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 5.6% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

8,179 real decisions·14 wards·Updated March 2026

92.6% approved overall. But 605 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Norwich shifts your odds by up to 5.6%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 14 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Lakenham	530	503	27	94.9%
2	Nelson	625	592	33	94.7%
3	Mancroft	1,607	1,504	103	93.6%
4	Sewell	293	274	19	93.5%
5	Eaton	1,098	1,016	82	92.5%
6	Thorpe Hamlet	1,120	1,034	86	92.3%
7	Crome	246	227	19	92.3%
8	Town Close	730	674	56	92.3%
9	Mile Cross	291	268	23	92.1%
10	Bowthorpe	190	174	16	91.6%
11	Catton Grove	580	530	50	91.4%
12	Not Applicable	22	20	2	90.9%
13	Wensum	341	306	35	89.7%
14	University	503	449	54	89.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Lakenham but face serious resistance in University.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 5.6% gap separates the best and worst wards. Lakenham approves 94.9% of applications while University approves just 89.3%. 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

605 planning applications in Norwich 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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More Norwich planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 8,179 planning decisions in Norwich, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Norwich Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →