Which ward in Swansea has the highest planning approval rate?

Penderry - Area 1 at 96.0% based on 75 decisions.

Which ward in Swansea has the lowest planning approval rate?

Cwmbwrla - Area 1 at 71.2% based on 52 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Swansea?

There is a 24.8% gap between Penderry - Area 1 and Cwmbwrla - Area 1. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Swansea

Planning outcomes in Swansea are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 24.8% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

3,668 real decisions·44 wards·Updated June 2026

All 44 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Penderry - Area 1	75	72	3	96.0%
2	Upper Loughor - Area 2	25	24	1	96.0%
3	Mawr - Area 1	49	47	2	95.9%
4	Llwchwr - Area 1	45	43	2	95.6%
5	Waterfront - Bay Area	39	37	2	94.9%
6	Newton - Area 2	69	65	4	94.2%
7	Pontlliw And Tircoed - Area 1	16	15	1	93.8%
8	Waunarlwydd - Bay Area	16	15	1	93.8%
9	Llangyfelach - Area 1	77	71	6	92.2%
10	Landore - Area 1	88	81	7	92.0%
11	Castle - Bay Area	290	265	25	91.4%
12	Llansamlet - Area 1	171	154	17	90.1%
13	Penllergaer - Area 1	59	53	6	89.8%
14	Bonymaen - Area 1	58	52	6	89.7%
15	Pennard - Area 2	123	109	14	88.6%
16	Gower - Area 2	265	234	31	88.3%
17	Morriston - Area 1	161	142	19	88.2%
18	Dunvant - Area 2	57	50	7	87.7%
19	Lower Loughor - Area 2	16	14	2	87.5%
20	Sketty - Bay Area	253	220	33	87.0%
21	Clydach - Area 1	89	77	12	86.5%
22	Pontarddulais - Area 1	80	69	11	86.2%
23	Gowerton - Area 2	72	62	10	86.1%
24	Killay South - Area 2	21	18	3	85.7%
25	Kingsbridge - Area 2	53	45	8	84.9%
26	Cockett - Area 1	109	92	17	84.4%
27	St. Thomas - Bay Area	89	75	14	84.3%
28	Cockett - Bay Area	43	36	7	83.7%
29	Mynyddbach - Area 1	82	68	14	82.9%
30	West Cross - Bay Area	104	86	18	82.7%
31	Gorseinon And Penyrheol - Area 1	23	19	4	82.6%
32	Gorseinon - Area 2	34	28	6	82.4%
33	Killay North - Area 2	38	31	7	81.6%
34	Penyrheol - Area 2	64	52	12	81.2%
35	Dunvant And Killay - Area 2	41	33	8	80.5%
36	Bishopston - Area 2	82	66	16	80.5%
37	Townhill - Area 1	30	24	6	80.0%
38	Mayals - Bay Area	80	64	16	80.0%
39	Fairwood - Area 2	52	41	11	78.8%
40	Mumbles - Area 2	106	83	23	78.3%
41	Oystermouth - Bay Area	115	86	29	74.8%
42	Uplands - Bay Area	164	118	46	72.0%
43	Penclawdd - Area 2	81	58	23	71.6%
44	Cwmbwrla - Area 1	52	37	15	71.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 24.8% gap separates the best and worst wards. Penderry - Area 1 approves 96.0% of applications while Cwmbwrla - Area 1 approves just 71.2%. 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

525 planning applications in Swansea 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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Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Swansea

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Swansea

All 44 wards ranked

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

What the data tells us

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

More Swansea planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns