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

Haverhill East at 99.2% based on 236 decisions.

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

The Rows at 88.4% based on 1,356 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across West Suffolk?

There is a 10.8% 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 10.8% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

23,027 real decisions·43 wards·Updated September 2026

All 43 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Haverhill East	236	234	2	99.2%
2	Withersfield	1,363	1,312	51	96.3%
3	St Olaves	393	378	15	96.2%
4	Eastgate	962	922	40	95.8%
5	Southgate	775	740	35	95.5%
6	Moreton Hall	1,080	1,030	50	95.4%
7	Newmarket East	1,508	1,435	73	95.2%
8	Haverhill South East	208	198	10	95.2%
9	Horringer	1,188	1,129	59	95.0%
10	Bardwell	1,151	1,093	58	95.0%
11	Chedburgh And Chevington	1,243	1,176	67	94.6%
12	Haverhill South	353	334	19	94.6%
13	Mildenhall Queensway	438	414	24	94.5%
14	Risby	1,539	1,453	86	94.4%
15	Clare, Hundon And Kedington	2,997	2,826	171	94.3%
16	Abbeygate	3,090	2,913	177	94.3%
17	Newmarket North	839	791	48	94.3%
18	Exning	801	755	46	94.3%
19	Haverhill North	474	446	28	94.1%
20	Tollgate	1,017	956	61	94.0%
21	Mildenhall Kingsway And Market	620	582	38	93.9%
22	Westgate	753	707	46	93.9%
23	Newmarket West	1,044	977	67	93.6%
24	Barningham	832	777	55	93.4%
25	Whepstead And Wickhambrook	1,492	1,392	100	93.3%
26	Ixworth	675	629	46	93.2%
27	Manor	1,126	1,048	78	93.1%
28	Brandon East	318	296	22	93.1%
29	The Fornhams And Great Barton	1,647	1,531	116	93.0%
30	Barrow	802	745	57	92.9%
31	Iceni	584	541	43	92.6%
32	Haverhill West	242	224	18	92.6%
33	Kentford And Moulton	1,049	970	79	92.5%
34	Minden	1,415	1,308	107	92.4%
35	Pakenham & Troston	564	521	43	92.4%
36	Stanton	669	617	52	92.2%
37	Mildenhall Great Heath	171	157	14	91.8%
38	Haverhill Central	682	625	57	91.6%
39	Lakenheath	1,209	1,106	103	91.5%
40	Brandon West	315	288	27	91.4%
41	Brandon Central	380	345	35	90.8%
42	Rougham	726	655	71	90.2%
43	The Rows	1,356	1,199	157	88.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 10.8% gap separates the best and worst wards. Haverhill East approves 99.2% 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

1,972 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