Which ward in Swindon has the highest planning approval rate?

Dorcan at 100.0% based on 32 decisions.

Which ward in Swindon has the lowest planning approval rate?

Moredon at 81.6% based on 38 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Swindon?

There is a 18.4% gap between Dorcan and Moredon. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Swindon

Planning outcomes in Swindon are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 18.4% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

4,587 real decisions·43 wards·Updated August 2026

All 43 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Dorcan	32	32	0	100.0%
2	Queens Park	22	22	0	100.0%
3	Lower Stratton	17	17	0	100.0%
4	Shaw & Westlea	17	17	0	100.0%
5	Chiseldon & Ridgeway	20	20	0	100.0%
6	Wroughton & Wichelstowe	17	17	0	100.0%
7	Rodbourne Ferndale & Western	21	21	0	100.0%
8	Not Applicable	462	460	2	99.6%
9	Old Town & Lawn	134	131	3	97.8%
10	Liden, Eldene And Park South	69	67	2	97.1%
11	St Andrews	163	158	5	96.9%
12	Wroughton And Wichelstowe	206	199	7	96.6%
13	Old Town	249	240	9	96.4%
14	Chiseldon And Lawn	208	200	8	96.2%
15	Blunsdon	50	48	2	96.0%
16	Highworth	49	47	2	95.9%
17	Lydiard And Freshbrook	69	66	3	95.7%
18	St Margaret And South Marston	227	217	10	95.6%
19	Blunsdon And Highworth	344	329	15	95.6%
20	Western	60	57	3	95.0%
21	Central	177	168	9	94.9%
22	Ridgeway	267	253	14	94.8%
23	Walcot And Park North	76	72	4	94.7%
24	Covingham And Dorcan	75	71	4	94.7%
25	Priory Vale	92	87	5	94.6%
26	Shaw	100	94	6	94.0%
27	Rodbourne Cheney	131	123	8	93.9%
28	Haydon Wick	161	151	10	93.8%
29	Eastcott	203	190	13	93.6%
30	Penhill And Upper Stratton	89	83	6	93.3%
31	Mannington And Western	60	56	4	93.3%
32	Penhill	14	13	1	92.9%
33	Walcot	41	38	3	92.7%
34	Wroughton & Chiseldon	84	77	7	91.7%
35	St Margaret	86	78	8	90.7%
36	Abbey Meads	52	47	5	90.4%
37	Gorse Hill & Pinehurst	142	128	14	90.1%
38	Freshbrook & Grange Park	28	25	3	89.3%
39	Toothill & Westlea	35	30	5	85.7%
40	Covingham & Nythe	47	40	7	85.1%
41	Shaw & Nine Elms	43	36	7	83.7%
42	St Philip	41	34	7	82.9%
43	Moredon	38	31	7	81.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 18.4% gap separates the best and worst wards. Dorcan approves 100.0% of applications while Moredon approves just 81.6%. 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

230 planning applications in Swindon 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 Swindon

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Swindon

All 43 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 Swindon planning data