West Lothian planning approval rate

West Lothian council approved 90.7% of planning applications and refused 9.3%, based on 13,423 decisions analysed. Ranked 117th out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

90.7%

overall approval rate

13,423

Decisions analysed

12,179

Approved

1,244

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in West Lothian? 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 West Lothian. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Other (13,423 decided)

90.7%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in West Lothian — mined from 13,423 proposal descriptions.

Extension (General) (3,886 decided)

95.2%

Garage / Parking (1,679 decided)

91.5%

Change of Use (Residential) (1,235 decided)

85.0%

New Build (658 decided)

84.5%

Dormer (487 decided)

88.5%

Outbuilding (466 decided)

88.8%

Conservatory (393 decided)

96.9%

Rear Extension (81 decided)

95.1%

Annex (40 decided)

87.5%

Side Extension (39 decided)

84.6%

Flat Conversion (22 decided)

95.5%

Loft Conversion (15 decided)

93.3%

Basement (12 decided)

83.3%

Wraparound Extension (11 decided)

100.0%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within West Lothian. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Linlithgow (2,738 decided)

92.0%

East Livingston & East Calder (1,665 decided)

89.7%

Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh (1,660 decided)

90.8%

Livingston South (1,452 decided)

93.7%

Bathgate (1,300 decided)

89.6%

Fauldhouse & The Breich Valley (1,281 decided)

90.5%

Armadale & Blackridge (1,205 decided)

88.3%

Whitburn & Blackburn (1,205 decided)

89.5%

Livingston North (900 decided)

90.4%

Wards in West Lothian

Linlithgow

92.0% approval · 2,738 decisions

East Livingston & East Calder

89.7% approval · 1,665 decisions

Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh

90.8% approval · 1,660 decisions

Livingston South

93.7% approval · 1,452 decisions

Bathgate

89.6% approval · 1,300 decisions

Fauldhouse & The Breich Valley

90.5% approval · 1,281 decisions

Armadale & Blackridge

88.3% approval · 1,205 decisions

Whitburn & Blackburn

89.5% approval · 1,205 decisions

Livingston North

90.4% approval · 900 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in West Lothian, showing how the council decides real applications.

0077/H/26

Extension to house · Whitburn & Blackburn · Thu 05 Feb 2026

Approved

0075/H/26

Extension to house · Whitburn & Blackburn · Wed 04 Feb 2026

Approved

0067/H/26

Erection of a single storey garage to side of house · Bathgate · Mon 02 Feb 2026

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In West Lothian, 1 in 11 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 West Lothian
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get West Lothian Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 13,423 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

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