Which ward in Norwich has the highest planning approval rate?

Lakenham at 95.1% based on 549 decisions.

Which ward in Norwich has the lowest planning approval rate?

University at 89.6% based on 518 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Norwich?

There is a 5.5% 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 5.5% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

8,461 real decisions·14 wards·Updated June 2026

92.6% approved overall. But 625 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Norwich shifts your odds by up to 5.5%. 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	549	522	27	95.1%
2	Nelson	650	616	34	94.8%
3	Sewell	305	285	20	93.4%
4	Mancroft	1,675	1,563	112	93.3%
5	Crome	257	238	19	92.6%
6	Eaton	1,126	1,042	84	92.5%
7	Town Close	751	695	56	92.5%
8	Mile Cross	302	279	23	92.4%
9	Thorpe Hamlet	1,162	1,069	93	92.0%
10	Bowthorpe	195	179	16	91.8%
11	Catton Grove	597	547	50	91.6%
12	Not Applicable	22	20	2	90.9%
13	Wensum	349	314	35	90.0%
14	University	518	464	54	89.6%

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 5.5% gap separates the best and worst wards. Lakenham approves 95.1% of applications while University approves just 89.6%. 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

625 planning applications in Norwich 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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More Norwich planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 8,461 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 →