Which ward in Sefton has the highest planning approval rate?

Ravenmeols Ward at 92.9% based on 425 decisions.

Which ward in Sefton has the lowest planning approval rate?

Derby Ward at 78.6% based on 187 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Sefton?

There is a 14.3% 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 14.3% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

5,018 real decisions·23 wards·Updated September 2026

90.5% approved overall. But 479 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Sefton shifts your odds by up to 14.3%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 23 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Ravenmeols Ward	425	395	30	92.9%
2	Ainsdale Ward	330	304	26	92.1%
3	Litherland Ward	165	151	14	91.5%
4	Cambridge Ward	234	214	20	91.5%
5	Meols Ward	374	341	33	91.2%
6	Kew Ward	233	212	21	91.0%
7	Formby West Ward	11	10	1	90.9%
8	Harington Ward	771	697	74	90.4%
9	St Oswald Ward	94	85	9	90.4%
10	Blundellsands Ward	532	480	52	90.2%
11	Victoria Ward	281	252	29	89.7%
12	Birkdale Ward	379	338	41	89.2%
13	Park Ward	438	390	48	89.0%
14	Sudell Ward	320	284	36	88.8%
15	Dukes Ward	872	765	107	87.7%
16	Netherton And Orrell Ward	209	183	26	87.6%
17	Manor Ward	483	419	64	86.7%
18	Norwood Ward	229	198	31	86.5%
19	Ford Ward	145	125	20	86.2%
20	Molyneux Ward	361	310	51	85.9%
21	Linacre Ward	218	185	33	84.9%
22	Church Ward	366	304	62	83.1%
23	Derby Ward	187	147	40	78.6%

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 14.3% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ravenmeols Ward approves 92.9% of applications while Derby Ward approves just 78.6%. 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

479 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.

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More Sefton planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 5,018 planning decisions in Sefton, January 2020 to September 2026. 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 →