Western Isles Council approves 98.9% of planning applications, based on 1,936 real decisions analysed from the council’s public planning portal. The national average across all councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%. Western Isles sits 10.3 percentage points above the national average.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 435 decided applications, Western Isles Council approved 98.6% of planning applications in 2025. Across 1,936 decisions analysed since January 2020, the overall approval rate in Western Isles is 98.9%; the national average across UK councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of Western Isles council planning portal records · Updated August 2026 · Quote freely with attribution
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Not all applications are treated equally. Extension types, listed building consent, and change of use applications each have very different success rates in Western Isles.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 1,504 | 19 | 1,523 | 98.8% |
| Prior Approval | 265 | 1 | 266 | 99.6% |
| Listed Building | 44 | 0 | 44 | 100.0% |
| Advertisement | 39 | 0 | 39 | 100.0% |
| Trees | 29 | 0 | 29 | 100.0% |
| Full | 22 | 1 | 23 | 95.7% |
| Discharge of Conditions | 10 | 0 | 10 | 100.0% |
A loft conversion in one ward can have a 90% approval rate. In the next ward, 55%. The free check tells you which side you're on, your free property report is emailed in minutes.
Check My PostcodeWard-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.
| Ward | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uibhist A Deas,Eirisgeigh,Beinn Faoghla | 245 | 1 | 246 | 99.6% |
| Na Hearadh | 225 | 2 | 227 | 99.1% |
| Uibhist A Tuath | 194 | 1 | 195 | 99.5% |
| Steòrnabhagh A Deas | 183 | 3 | 186 | 98.4% |
| Sgir' Uige Agus Carlabhagh | 180 | 5 | 185 | 97.3% |
| An Taobh Siar Agus Nis | 162 | 2 | 164 | 98.8% |
| Loch A Tuath | 140 | 1 | 141 | 99.3% |
| Sgire Nan Loch | 130 | 1 | 131 | 99.2% |
| Sgire An Rubha | 123 | 1 | 124 | 99.2% |
| Barraigh Agus Bhatarsaigh | 118 | 3 | 121 | 97.5% |
| Steòrnabhagh A Tuath | 113 | 0 | 113 | 100.0% |
| Na Hearadh Agus Ceann A Deas Nan Loch | 23 | 0 | 23 | 100.0% |
| Sgir' Uige Agus Ceann A Tuath Nan Loch | 20 | 0 | 20 | 100.0% |
| Beinn Na Foghla Agus Uibhist A Tuath | 16 | 1 | 17 | 94.1% |
| Barraigh Agus Uibhist A Deas | 17 | 0 | 17 | 100.0% |
| Steornabhagh A Deas | 13 | 0 | 13 | 100.0% |
| Not Applicable | 12 | 0 | 12 | 100.0% |
How Western Isles’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, up 0.1pp since 2022.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Real residential planning decisions from Western Isles council. Each reference links to the council's own planning portal so you can verify the details yourself.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 26/00090/PPD Uibhist A Tuath | Erection of new off-grid shelter, comprising 2 linked units with accessible deck | Approved |
| 26/00266/AGRIC Na Hearadh | Erect nissen shed | Approved |
| 26/00114/PPD An Taobh Siar Agus Nis | Erect 8 semi-detached houses with associated access road, footpath, service conn | Approved |
| 26/00252/OTHPN Steòrnabhagh A Deas | Replace existing double-glazed timber sash and case windows with conservation-st | Approved |
| 26/00175/PPP Na Hearadh | Erect house with associated infrastructure and services | Approved |
| 26/00267/TEL Na Hearadh | The replacement of 3no. existing antennas for 3no. proposed antennas, the remova | Approved |
| 26/00144/PPD Barraigh Agus Bhatarsaigh | Erect house. Create access. Install private drainage system. Renewal of planning | Approved |
| 26/00192/PPD An Taobh Siar Agus Nis | Change of use from mission hall to house | Approved |
| 26/00154/PPD Uibhist A Tuath | Demolish existing ruin and erect house with associated infrastructure and servic | Approved |
| 26/00165/PPD Uibhist A Tuath | Erect house with associated infrastructure and services | Approved |
Find out what actually gets approved near your address first. Your free property report analyses the 20 nearest decisions to your property, ward-specific refusal patterns, and extension-by-extension approval patterns. Based on Western Isles's 1,936 real decisions. Free, emailed in minutes.
Check my postcodeCompare Western Isles's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
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Dig deeper into Western Isles's planning statistics, by ward, extension type, or project category:
Data-driven guides to help you understand planning approval patterns:
Yes. PlanningLens offers a free planning permission check for Western Isles. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 1,936 real decisions from Western Isles council. The full property-specific report is also free and emailed within minutes.
Enter your postcode on PlanningLens for a free instant check based on Western Isles's real planning decisions. The free property report goes further: it analyses the 20 nearest comparable decisions to your property, ward-level refusal patterns, and approval rates by application type. Free and emailed within minutes.
Based on 1,936 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Western Isles is 98.9%. The national average across councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%. Rates vary significantly by ward and application type.
PlanningLens has analysed 1,936 planning decisions from Western Isles council. 1,915 were approved and 21 were refused. These figures cover decisions from January 2020 to the present.
The average approval rate in Western Isles is 98.9%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the free PlanningLens postcode check to get a personalised score.
Writing about planning in Western Isles? These figures are free to republish with attribution. Copy the one-line citation, or paste the stat box into any website, CMS or newsletter, it carries its own styling and links back to this page for verification.