Best and worst Northern councils for planning approvals
What local authority has the highest percentage of decisions approved? And which has the worst? How do Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle compare?
Using the most recent data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, here’s a look at how local authorities across the North performed when it came to granting planning permission in the year ending March 2024.
Local authorities with the highest application approval rate
- Knowsley – 97%
- Darlington – 96%
- Preston – 96%
- Stockton-on-Tees – 95%
- Cumberland – 95%
- South Tyneside – 95%
- Redcar and Cleveland – 95%
- Yorkshire Dales National Park – 95%
- North Tyneside – 95%
- Halton – 94%
Local authorities with the lowest application approval rate
- Calderdale – 73%
- Rossendale – 75%
- Ribble Valley – 76%
- Middlesbrough – 77%
- Blackpool – 78%
- Pendle – 80%
- Bradford – 81%
- Rochdale – 82%
- Warrington – 82%
- Leeds – 83%
What about the major cities and communities not on the best or worst lists?
County Durham in the North East had one of the higher approval percentages, with 94% of applications granted permission. Sunderland and Newcastle-upon-Tyne both had 92% scores.
In Yorkshire, we already know that Leeds only approved 83% of its applications – and Bradford 81%. York and Sheffield applications had better luck, with 86% and 88% being approved, respectively. Hull and Hartlepool projects were better off still – 91% and 92% received sign-off.
Over in the North West, Manchester was proven to have approved 90% of its applications, while Liverpool only greenlit 85%.
Within Greater Manchester, Stockport boasted the highest approval percentage, with 92% of applications making it through the system unscathed. This was closely followed by Salford and Tameside, whose approval percentages were 91%.
The worst performers were Rochdale (82%), Bolton (83%), and Trafford (84%).
Zeroing in on Liverpool City Region, Knowsley was the clear best performer, with 97% of applications making it through the planning gauntlet. Halton and St Helens followed with 94% and 91% scores. Wirral, with its 86% approval rating, was not the worst performer for the region – that honour went to Liverpool where 85% of applications are approved.
