Which ward in Sandwell has the highest planning approval rate?

Wednesbury South at 95.0% based on 317 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 6.2% gap between Wednesbury South 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 6.2% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

6,354 real decisions·24 wards·Updated March 2026

92.9% approved overall. But 450 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Sandwell shifts your odds by up to 6.2%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 24 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wednesbury South	317	301	16	95.0%
2	Smethwick	250	237	13	94.8%
3	Tipton Green	250	237	13	94.8%
4	Princes End	116	110	6	94.8%
5	Oldbury	407	384	23	94.3%
6	Great Barr With Yew Tree	263	248	15	94.3%
7	St Pauls	383	361	22	94.3%
8	West Bromwich Central	430	404	26	94.0%
9	Rowley	164	154	10	93.9%
10	Bristnall	299	280	19	93.6%
11	Hateley Heath	235	220	15	93.6%
12	Great Bridge	241	225	16	93.4%
13	Wednesbury North	249	232	17	93.2%
14	Friar Park	152	141	11	92.8%
15	Cradley Heath & Old Hill	256	237	19	92.6%
16	Soho & Victoria	258	239	19	92.6%
17	Old Warley	303	280	23	92.4%
18	Tividale	197	181	16	91.9%
19	Langley	217	199	18	91.7%
20	Abbey	248	226	22	91.1%
21	Blackheath	204	185	19	90.7%
22	Newton	286	259	27	90.6%
23	Greets Green & Lyng	328	296	32	90.2%
24	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 Wednesbury South 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 6.2% gap separates the best and worst wards. Wednesbury South approves 95.0% 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

450 planning applications in Sandwell 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 Sandwell planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,354 planning decisions in Sandwell, January 2020 to present. 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 →