Which ward in Sandwell has the highest planning approval rate?

Newton & Valley at 100.0% based on 29 decisions.

Which ward in Sandwell has the lowest planning approval rate?

Charlemont With Grove Vale at 88.8% based on 286 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Sandwell?

There is a 11.2% gap between Newton & Valley and Charlemont With Grove Vale. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Sandwell

Planning outcomes in Sandwell are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 11.2% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

6,061 real decisions·31 wards·Updated September 2026

All 31 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Newton & Valley	29	29	0	100.0%
2	Friar Park & Stone Cross	23	23	0	100.0%
3	Charlemont & Grove Vale	32	32	0	100.0%
4	Bearwood	29	29	0	100.0%
5	Hill Top	42	41	1	97.6%
6	Wednesbury	38	37	1	97.4%
7	Great Barr Tamebridge & Yew Tree	36	35	1	97.2%
8	Tipton Green	284	271	13	95.4%
9	Princes End	126	120	6	95.2%
10	Wednesbury South	317	301	16	95.0%
11	Smethwick	295	280	15	94.9%
12	Oldbury	443	420	23	94.8%
13	Rowley	188	178	10	94.7%
14	St Pauls	417	394	23	94.5%
15	Great Barr With Yew Tree	263	248	15	94.3%
16	Great Bridge	272	256	16	94.1%
17	Bristnall	332	312	20	94.0%
18	West Bromwich Central	477	448	29	93.9%
19	Hateley Heath	276	259	17	93.8%
20	Wednesbury North	249	232	17	93.2%
21	Soho & Victoria	292	272	20	93.2%
22	Cradley Heath & Old Hill	288	268	20	93.1%
23	Friar Park	152	141	11	92.8%
24	Old Warley	344	318	26	92.4%
25	Langley	237	219	18	92.4%
26	Tividale	230	212	18	92.2%
27	Blackheath	230	211	19	91.7%
28	Abbey	248	226	22	91.1%
29	Greets Green & Lyng	365	332	33	91.0%
30	Newton	286	259	27	90.6%
31	Charlemont With Grove Vale	286	254	32	88.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Newton & Valley but face serious resistance in Charlemont With Grove Vale.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 11.2% gap separates the best and worst wards. Newton & Valley approves 100.0% of applications while Charlemont With Grove Vale approves just 88.8%. 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

427 planning applications in Sandwell 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,840,000+ real decisions

More Sandwell planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,061 planning decisions in Sandwell, January 2020 to September 2026. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Sandwell Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →