Which ward in Sefton has the highest planning approval rate?

Ravenmeols Ward at 92.1% based on 365 decisions.

Which ward in Sefton has the lowest planning approval rate?

Derby Ward at 76.7% based on 159 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Sefton?

There is a 15.4% 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 15.4% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

6,453 real decisions·22 wards·Updated March 2026

87.5% approved overall. But 809 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Sefton shifts your odds by up to 15.4%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 22 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Ravenmeols Ward	365	336	29	92.1%
2	Ainsdale Ward	283	260	23	91.9%
3	Litherland Ward	123	112	11	91.1%
4	Meols Ward	324	293	31	90.4%
5	Cambridge Ward	198	179	19	90.4%
6	St Oswald Ward	70	63	7	90.0%
7	Blundellsands Ward	456	409	47	89.7%
8	Kew Ward	192	171	21	89.1%
9	Harington Ward	644	573	71	89.0%
10	Birkdale Ward	310	273	37	88.1%
11	Victoria Ward	231	203	28	87.9%
12	Park Ward	377	329	48	87.3%
13	Dukes Ward	757	659	98	87.1%
14	Sudell Ward	264	229	35	86.7%
15	Manor Ward	422	364	58	86.3%
16	Netherton And Orrell Ward	165	140	25	84.8%
17	Ford Ward	122	103	19	84.4%
18	Molyneux Ward	295	248	47	84.1%
19	Norwood Ward	197	165	32	83.8%
20	Linacre Ward	165	136	29	82.4%
21	Church Ward	310	253	57	81.6%
22	Derby Ward	159	122	37	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.

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What the data tells us

A 15.4% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ravenmeols Ward approves 92.1% 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

809 planning applications in Sefton 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 Sefton planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,453 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 →