Which ward in Sunderland has the highest planning approval rate?

Washington South at 94.9% based on 257 decisions.

Which ward in Sunderland has the lowest planning approval rate?

Redhill at 78.2% based on 147 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Sunderland?

There is a 16.7% gap between Washington South and Redhill. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Sunderland

Planning outcomes in Sunderland are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 16.7% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

10,482 real decisions·25 wards·Updated March 2026

88.6% approved overall. But 1,199 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Sunderland shifts your odds by up to 16.7%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Sunderland

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

Check My Postcode

All 25 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Washington South	257	244	13	94.9%
2	Silksworth	243	226	17	93.0%
3	St Michaels	909	839	70	92.3%
4	St Chads	310	286	24	92.3%
5	Fulwell	621	570	51	91.8%
6	Sandhill	115	105	10	91.3%
7	Pallion	195	177	18	90.8%
8	Barnes	240	217	23	90.4%
9	St Peters	414	373	41	90.1%
10	Shiney Row	418	376	42	90.0%
11	Washington Central	379	341	38	90.0%
12	Washington North	577	519	58	89.9%
13	St Annes	267	238	29	89.1%
14	Southwick	571	506	65	88.6%
15	Millfield	693	613	80	88.5%
16	Washington East	310	273	37	88.1%
17	Washington West	358	315	43	88.0%
18	Ryhope	460	405	55	88.0%
19	Hendon	707	617	90	87.3%
20	Castle	246	214	32	87.0%
21	Houghton	381	330	51	86.6%
22	Doxford	597	506	91	84.8%
23	Hetton	475	387	88	81.5%
24	Copt Hill	437	353	84	80.8%
25	Redhill	147	115	32	78.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Washington South but face serious resistance in Redhill.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

What the data tells us

A 16.7% gap separates the best and worst wards. Washington South approves 94.9% of applications while Redhill approves just 78.2%. 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

1,199 planning applications in Sunderland 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.

Check My Postcode First

Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Sunderland planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 10,482 planning decisions in Sunderland, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Sunderland Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →