South Lanarkshire planning approval rate
South Lanarkshire council approved 96.9% of planning applications and refused 3.1%, based on 25,858 decisions analysed. Ranked 204th out of 221 councils for strictness.
Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present
96.9%
overall approval rate
Planning in South Lanarkshire?
Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.
Approval rate by application type
Different application types have different approval rates in South Lanarkshire. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in South Lanarkshire — mined from 25,858 proposal descriptions.
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within South Lanarkshire. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
05 Avondale And Stonehouse (2,727 decided)
95.1%
03 Clydesdale East (2,589 decided)
96.7%
16 Bothwell And Uddingston (1,930 decided)
97.7%
02 Clydesdale North (1,924 decided)
96.0%
17 Hamilton North And East (1,737 decided)
97.8%
04 Clydesdale South (1,616 decided)
96.2%
09 East Kilbride West (1,605 decided)
96.5%
20 Larkhall (1,501 decided)
97.5%
01 Clydesdale West (1,491 decided)
95.9%
13 Cambuslang West (1,126 decided)
97.7%
14 Cambuslang East (1,043 decided)
97.7%
18 Hamilton West And Earnock (951 decided)
98.0%
19 Hamilton South (909 decided)
98.2%
08 East Kilbride Central North (895 decided)
96.9%
12 Rutherglen Central And North (837 decided)
96.4%
15 Blantyre (742 decided)
98.1%
11 Rutherglen South (732 decided)
97.0%
06 East Kilbride South (547 decided)
97.8%
10 East Kilbride East (485 decided)
97.3%
07 East Kilbride Central South (469 decided)
96.8%
Wards in South Lanarkshire
05 Avondale And Stonehouse
95.1% approval · 2,727 decisions
03 Clydesdale East
96.7% approval · 2,589 decisions
16 Bothwell And Uddingston
97.7% approval · 1,930 decisions
02 Clydesdale North
96.0% approval · 1,924 decisions
17 Hamilton North And East
97.8% approval · 1,737 decisions
04 Clydesdale South
96.2% approval · 1,616 decisions
09 East Kilbride West
96.5% approval · 1,605 decisions
20 Larkhall
97.5% approval · 1,501 decisions
01 Clydesdale West
95.9% approval · 1,491 decisions
13 Cambuslang West
97.7% approval · 1,126 decisions
14 Cambuslang East
97.7% approval · 1,043 decisions
18 Hamilton West And Earnock
98.0% approval · 951 decisions
19 Hamilton South
98.2% approval · 909 decisions
08 East Kilbride Central North
96.9% approval · 895 decisions
12 Rutherglen Central And North
96.4% approval · 837 decisions
15 Blantyre
98.1% approval · 742 decisions
11 Rutherglen South
97.0% approval · 732 decisions
06 East Kilbride South
97.8% approval · 547 decisions
10 East Kilbride East
97.3% approval · 485 decisions
07 East Kilbride Central South
96.8% approval · 469 decisions
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in South Lanarkshire, showing how the council decides real applications.
P/26/0183
Formation of window and internal alterations to dwellinghouse (Certificate of La · 06 East Kilbride South · Tue 10 Feb 2026
P/26/0008/V
Variation of height and roof type of single-storey rear extension and alteration · 11 Rutherglen South · Sun 08 Feb 2026
P/26/0006/V
Minor variation to house type 3 incorporating internal layout and fenestration c · 09 East Kilbride West · Thu 05 Feb 2026
Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →
What gets approved near your property?
In South Lanarkshire, 1 in 32 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:
✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in South Lanarkshire
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Get South Lanarkshire Pro Report — £79
Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 25,858 decisions.
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