Which ward in West Suffolk has the highest planning approval rate?

Haverhill East at 99.6% based on 231 decisions.

Which ward in West Suffolk has the lowest planning approval rate?

The Rows at 88.4% based on 1,350 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across West Suffolk?

There is a 11.2% gap between Haverhill East and The Rows. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in West Suffolk

Planning outcomes in West Suffolk are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 11.2% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

40,184 real decisions·43 wards·Updated August 2026

All 43 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Haverhill East	231	230	1	99.6%
2	St Olaves	393	378	15	96.2%
3	Withersfield	1,353	1,302	51	96.2%
4	Eastgate	953	913	40	95.8%
5	Southgate	771	737	34	95.6%
6	Moreton Hall	1,077	1,027	50	95.4%
7	Haverhill South East	208	198	10	95.2%
8	Newmarket East	1,503	1,430	73	95.1%
9	Horringer	1,182	1,123	59	95.0%
10	Bardwell	1,129	1,071	58	94.9%
11	Chedburgh And Chevington	1,231	1,164	67	94.6%
12	Haverhill South	352	333	19	94.6%
13	Mildenhall Queensway	435	411	24	94.5%
14	Risby	1,529	1,443	86	94.4%
15	Exning	798	753	45	94.4%
16	Clare, Hundon And Kedington	2,977	2,808	169	94.3%
17	Abbeygate	3,071	2,895	176	94.3%
18	Newmarket North	829	781	48	94.2%
19	Tollgate	1,014	953	61	94.0%
20	Haverhill North	470	442	28	94.0%
21	Mildenhall Kingsway And Market	618	580	38	93.9%
22	Westgate	752	706	46	93.9%
23	Newmarket West	1,035	968	67	93.5%
24	Barningham	828	773	55	93.4%
25	Ixworth	672	627	45	93.3%
26	Whepstead And Wickhambrook	1,484	1,384	100	93.3%
27	Brandon East	318	296	22	93.1%
28	Manor	1,120	1,042	78	93.0%
29	The Fornhams And Great Barton	1,635	1,519	116	92.9%
30	Barrow	799	742	57	92.9%
31	Iceni	583	540	43	92.6%
32	Haverhill West	242	224	18	92.6%
33	Minden	1,407	1,300	107	92.4%
34	Kentford And Moulton	1,043	964	79	92.4%
35	Pakenham & Troston	558	515	43	92.3%
36	Mildenhall Great Heath	169	156	13	92.3%
37	Stanton	667	615	52	92.2%
38	Haverhill Central	678	621	57	91.6%
39	Brandon West	314	287	27	91.4%
40	Lakenheath	1,197	1,094	103	91.4%
41	Brandon Central	379	344	35	90.8%
42	Rougham	721	650	71	90.2%
43	The Rows	1,350	1,193	157	88.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 11.2% gap separates the best and worst wards. Haverhill East approves 99.6% of applications while The Rows approves just 88.4%. 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

2,552 planning applications in West Suffolk 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 West Suffolk

Check Planning Approval Patterns in West Suffolk

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 West Suffolk planning data