Which ward in Swansea has the highest planning approval rate?

Waterfront - Bay Area at 96.2% based on 52 decisions.

Which ward in Swansea has the lowest planning approval rate?

Uplands - Bay Area at 72.1% based on 222 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Swansea?

There is a 24.1% gap between Waterfront - Bay Area and Uplands - Bay Area. 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 24.1% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

2,449 real decisions·44 wards·Updated September 2026

All 44 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Waterfront - Bay Area	52	50	2	96.2%
2	Penderry - Area 1	79	75	4	94.9%
3	Newton - Area 2	69	65	4	94.2%
4	Mawr - Area 1	48	45	3	93.8%
5	Llwchwr - Area 1	54	50	4	92.6%
6	Upper Loughor - Area 2	26	24	2	92.3%
7	Castle - Bay Area	340	310	30	91.2%
8	Llangyfelach - Area 1	94	85	9	90.4%
9	Landore - Area 1	101	91	10	90.1%
10	Bonymaen - Area 1	69	62	7	89.9%
11	Pennard - Area 2	132	118	14	89.4%
12	Clydach - Area 1	99	88	11	88.9%
13	Llansamlet - Area 1	192	169	23	88.0%
14	Gower - Area 2	301	265	36	88.0%
15	Penllergaer - Area 1	66	58	8	87.9%
16	Lower Loughor - Area 2	16	14	2	87.5%
17	Morriston - Area 1	177	154	23	87.0%
18	Sketty - Bay Area	294	254	40	86.4%
19	Dunvant - Area 2	58	50	8	86.2%
20	Killay South - Area 2	21	18	3	85.7%
21	St. Thomas - Bay Area	97	83	14	85.6%
22	Pontlliw And Tircoed - Area 1	20	17	3	85.0%
23	Kingsbridge - Area 2	53	45	8	84.9%
24	Cockett - Bay Area	63	53	10	84.1%
25	Pontarddulais - Area 1	87	73	14	83.9%
26	Killay North - Area 2	37	31	6	83.8%
27	Cockett - Area 1	110	92	18	83.6%
28	Waunarlwydd - Bay Area	24	20	4	83.3%
29	Gorseinon And Penyrheol - Area 1	29	24	5	82.8%
30	Gowerton - Area 2	78	64	14	82.1%
31	Townhill - Area 1	43	35	8	81.4%
32	Gorseinon - Area 2	37	30	7	81.1%
33	West Cross - Bay Area	118	95	23	80.5%
34	Dunvant And Killay - Area 2	61	49	12	80.3%
35	Penyrheol - Area 2	65	52	13	80.0%
36	Mayals - Bay Area	89	71	18	79.8%
37	Mynyddbach - Area 1	94	74	20	78.7%
38	Bishopston - Area 2	98	77	21	78.6%
39	Mumbles - Area 2	142	109	33	76.8%
40	Fairwood - Area 2	59	44	15	74.6%
41	Cwmbwrla - Area 1	59	43	16	72.9%
42	Penclawdd - Area 2	88	64	24	72.7%
43	Oystermouth - Bay Area	120	87	33	72.5%
44	Uplands - Bay Area	222	160	62	72.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 24.1% gap separates the best and worst wards. Waterfront - Bay Area approves 96.2% of applications while Uplands - Bay Area approves just 72.1%. 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

413 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