Hardest councils for planning permission in the UK
This ranking shows the strictest councils for planning permission in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, based on 3,778,122 planning decisions analysed from January 2020 to August 2026. Councils are ranked by approval rate, the lower the rate, the higher your likelihood of refusal. While the average planning approval rate across our dataset is 90.4%, some councils approve barely 70% of applications. Understanding where your council sits can help you understand planning patterns before spending money on drawings and fees.
Last updated: August 2026 · Data sourced directly from council planning portals
Top 25 strictest councils
These are the councils with the lowest planning approval rates in our dataset (minimum 200 decisions). A lower approval rate means your application faces a higher chance of refusal.
| # | Council | Approval | Refusal | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barking & Dagenham | 71.7% | 28.3% | 9,159 |
| 2 | East Hertfordshire | 73.6% | 26.4% | 17,285 |
| 3 | Uttlesford | 74.5% | 25.5% | 1,096 |
| 4 | Harrow | 75.9% | 24.1% | 22,078 |
| 5 | Maldon | 75.9% | 24.1% | 4,348 |
| 6 | Brent | 76.0% | 24.0% | 32,963 |
| 7 | Waltham Forest | 76.2% | 23.8% | 21,395 |
| 8 | Greenwich | 78.2% | 21.8% | 23,213 |
| 9 | Caerphilly | 78.3% | 21.7% | 4,948 |
| 10 | Elmbridge | 78.4% | 21.6% | 73,568 |
| 11 | Redbridge | 78.6% | 21.4% | 33,279 |
| 12 | Bradford | 79.2% | 20.8% | 28,122 |
| 13 | Havering | 79.5% | 20.5% | 24,144 |
| 14 | Enfield | 79.9% | 20.1% | 31,619 |
| 15 | Hillingdon | 79.9% | 20.1% | 30,783 |
| 16 | Kingston | 80.4% | 19.6% | 24,676 |
| 17 | Eastleigh | 80.6% | 19.4% | 25,022 |
| 18 | Torbay | 80.9% | 19.1% | 5,658 |
| 19 | Bromley | 81.0% | 19.0% | 36,167 |
| 20 | Thurrock | 81.0% | 19.0% | 11,147 |
| 21 | Croydon | 81.3% | 18.7% | 40,528 |
| 22 | Stoke-on-Trent | 81.5% | 18.5% | 1,743 |
| 23 | Barnet | 81.7% | 18.3% | 55,397 |
| 24 | Oadby & Wigston | 81.9% | 18.1% | 2,290 |
| 25 | Guildford | 82.1% | 17.9% | 18,120 |
Top 25 most permissive councils
These councils approve the highest proportion of planning applications.
| # | Council | Approval | Refusal | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Lanarkshire | 99.8% | 0.2% | 808 |
| 2 | Dacorum | 99.6% | 0.4% | 2,007 |
| 3 | Staffordshire | 99.4% | 0.6% | 1,890 |
| 4 | Falkirk | 99.2% | 0.8% | 1,027 |
| 5 | Fareham | 99.0% | 1.0% | 2,903 |
| 6 | Mansfield | 98.9% | 1.1% | 3,168 |
| 7 | Mid Ulster District Council | 98.9% | 1.1% | 3,039 |
| 8 | Western Isles | 98.9% | 1.1% | 1,936 |
| 9 | City of London | 98.8% | 1.2% | 10,562 |
| 10 | Mid Devon | 98.7% | 1.3% | 6,198 |
| 11 | Somerset | 98.7% | 1.3% | 553 |
| 12 | LLDC | 98.6% | 1.4% | 3,226 |
| 13 | Shetland | 98.3% | 1.7% | 9,013 |
| 14 | North Ayrshire | 98.1% | 1.9% | 1,360 |
| 15 | Harlow | 97.9% | 2.1% | 2,652 |
| 16 | Moray | 97.9% | 2.1% | 1,550 |
| 17 | Clackmannanshire | 97.8% | 2.2% | 1,069 |
| 18 | Carlisle | 97.5% | 2.5% | 5,059 |
| 19 | Dumfries & Galloway | 97.4% | 2.6% | 23,365 |
| 20 | Monmouthshire | 97.4% | 2.6% | 2,395 |
| 21 | North Kesteven | 97.4% | 2.6% | 695 |
| 22 | Teignbridge | 97.4% | 2.6% | 116 |
| 23 | Derry City and Strabane District Council | 97.3% | 2.7% | 7,298 |
| 24 | Gosport | 97.3% | 2.7% | 1,747 |
| 25 | OPDC | 97.1% | 2.9% | 1,281 |
What affects council approval rates?
Planning approval rates vary significantly between councils for several reasons. Councils in areas with high development pressure, conservation areas, and green belt land tend to refuse more applications. The type of applications submitted also matters, councils receiving more complex or speculative proposals will naturally show lower approval rates.
However, a council's overall rate doesn't tell the full story. Approval rates vary dramatically by ward, application type, and the specific nature of proposals. A council with a 70% overall rate may have wards where extensions are approved 95% of the time. That's why PlanningLens provides ward-level and type-specific data.
Planning in one of the strictest councils?
Some councils refuse nearly 1 in 3 applications. A council-wide average doesn't tell you how your street or application type performs.
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Common refusal reasons in your council
✓ Property-specific pattern analysis
✓ PDF report to share with your architect or planner
Free. Based on 3,778,122 decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest council for planning permission in the UK?
Based on our analysis of 3,778,122 decisions, Barking & Dagenham has the lowest approval rate at 71.7%, making it the strictest council for planning permission in our dataset. However, approval rates vary significantly by ward and application type within every council.
What is the average planning approval rate in the UK?
The average planning approval rate across the 305 councils in our dataset is 90.4%. This means roughly 10% of planning applications are refused nationally. Rates range from 71.7% to 99.8% depending on the council.
Why do some councils refuse more planning applications?
Councils with extensive conservation areas, green belt land, or high development pressure tend to refuse more applications. The mix of application types also matters, areas receiving more speculative or complex proposals will show higher refusal rates.
Does a low approval rate mean my application will be refused?
Not necessarily. Council-wide averages mask significant variation. A council with 75% overall approval may have wards where householder extensions are approved over 90% of the time. The specific ward, application type, and nature of your proposal all matter more than the headline rate.