Which ward in Sefton has the highest planning approval rate?

Ravenmeols Ward at 92.0% based on 374 decisions.

Which ward in Sefton has the lowest planning approval rate?

Derby Ward at 76.7% based on 163 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Sefton?

There is a 15.3% gap between Ravenmeols Ward and Derby Ward. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Sefton

Planning outcomes in Sefton are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 15.3% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

6,655 real decisions·22 wards·Updated June 2026

87.5% approved overall. But 834 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Sefton shifts your odds by up to 15.3%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Sefton

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

All 22 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Ravenmeols Ward	374	344	30	92.0%
2	Ainsdale Ward	293	269	24	91.8%
3	Cambridge Ward	207	188	19	90.8%
4	Meols Ward	335	304	31	90.7%
5	St Oswald Ward	73	66	7	90.4%
6	Blundellsands Ward	461	414	47	89.8%
7	Kew Ward	196	175	21	89.3%
8	Litherland Ward	128	114	14	89.1%
9	Harington Ward	663	588	75	88.7%
10	Victoria Ward	236	208	28	88.1%
11	Birkdale Ward	326	287	39	88.0%
12	Park Ward	388	339	49	87.4%
13	Sudell Ward	274	239	35	87.2%
14	Dukes Ward	775	675	100	87.1%
15	Manor Ward	434	374	60	86.2%
16	Netherton And Orrell Ward	177	151	26	85.3%
17	Norwood Ward	202	170	32	84.2%
18	Molyneux Ward	310	260	50	83.9%
19	Ford Ward	124	104	20	83.9%
20	Linacre Ward	176	145	31	82.4%
21	Church Ward	316	258	58	81.6%
22	Derby Ward	163	125	38	76.7%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

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

Check My Postcode

What the data tells us

A 15.3% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ravenmeols Ward approves 92.0% of applications while Derby Ward approves just 76.7%. 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

834 planning applications in Sefton 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.

Check my postcode

Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,290,000+ real decisions

More Sefton planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,655 planning decisions in Sefton, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Sefton Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →