Westminster Council approves 90.8% of planning applications, based on 64,246 real decisions analysed from the council’s public planning portal. The national average across all councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.3%. Westminster sits 2.5 percentage points above the national average.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 8,067 decided applications, Westminster Council approved 88.0% of planning applications in 2025. Across 64,246 decisions analysed since January 2020, the overall approval rate in Westminster is 90.8%; the national average across UK councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.3%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of Westminster council planning portal records · Updated June 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 Westminster.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 58,086 | 5,861 | 63,947 | 90.8% |
| Prior Approval | 177 | 50 | 227 | 78.0% |
| Full | 64 | 8 | 72 | 88.9% |
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 PostcodeHow Westminster’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, down 7.3pp since 2018.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Real residential planning decisions from Westminster council. Each reference links to the council's own planning portal so you can verify the details yourself.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| None Sjw_22 | 0133/0644 Outside 56-59 Strand, London, WC2N 5LR | Approved |
| None Wew_22 | Confirmation of the lawfulness of the proposed residential use on the second flo | Approved |
| None Wew_22 | Refurbishment including the removal of a conservatory roof, provision of a new r | Approved |
| None Lvw_22 | Replacement of lower ground floor rear extension; enlargement of existing two-st | Approved |
| None Wew_22 | Display of double sided digital LED display 'BT 'Street Hub' unit measuring 2.9 | Approved |
| None Qpw_22 | Installation of photovoltaic solar panels to front roof slope and associated ext | Approved |
| None Lvw_22 | Replacement of lower ground floor rear extension; enlargement of existing two-st | Approved |
| None Mbw_22 | Details of overall external envelope design of the new extension (detailed eleva | Approved |
| None Wew_22 | Refurbishment including the removal of a conservatory roof, provision of a new r | Approved |
| None Psw_22 | Use of existing gardener's shed as a cafe/takeaway (sui generis) kiosk; erection | 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 Westminster's 64,246 real decisions. Free, emailed in minutes.
Check my postcodeCompare Westminster's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
Dig deeper into Westminster'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 Westminster. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 64,246 real decisions from Westminster 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 Westminster'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 64,246 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Westminster is 90.8%. The national average across councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.3%. Rates vary significantly by ward and application type.
PlanningLens has analysed 64,246 planning decisions from Westminster council. 58,327 were approved and 5,919 were refused. These figures cover decisions from January 2020 to the present.
The average approval rate in Westminster is 90.8%, 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 Westminster? 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.