League table · Planning Inspectorate

Appeal overturn rates: which councils get reversed?

When a refusal goes to appeal, how often does the Planning Inspectorate side with the applicant? Every council ranked on real PINS casework — the single best read on whether a refusal is worth fighting.

National overturn rate

32.1%

of decided appeals are allowed — the council's decision overturned.

Fewest overturned Most overturned Most appeals

HM Planning Inspectorate casework data (OGL) · appeals decided Jul 2021 – May 2026. Overturn rate = appeals allowed ÷ appeals decided. Councils with fewer than 20 decided appeals aren't listed — too few to be meaningful.

#	Council	Appeals	Decided	Allowed	Overturned
1	Boston Borough Council	49	37	5	13.5%
2	East Lindsey District Council	110	104	16	15.4%
3	Broadland District Council	121	98	16	16.3%
4	Plymouth City Council	140	137	23	16.8%
5	North Kesteven District Council	98	86	15	17.4%
6	Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council	41	34	6	17.6%
7	Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	300	251	45	17.9%
8	Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council	201	166	31	18.7%
9	Breckland Council	197	183	35	19.1%
10	Cannock Chase District Council	47	41	8	19.5%
11	New Forest District Council	146	130	26	20.0%
12	Yorkshire Dales	62	55	11	20.0%
13	Eastleigh Borough Council	137	123	25	20.3%
14	Tamworth Borough Council	31	29	6	20.7%
15	Norwich City Council	74	62	13	21.0%
16	Peterborough City Council	187	176	37	21.0%
17	Havant Borough Council	67	57	12	21.1%
18	Scarborough Borough Council *	45	38	8	21.1%
19	Lancaster City Council	230	191	41	21.5%
20	North Norfolk District Council	189	150	33	22.0%
21	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council	73	59	13	22.0%
22	East Riding of Yorkshire Council	418	357	80	22.4%
23	South Ribble Borough Council	60	53	12	22.6%
24	West Lindsey District Council	106	101	23	22.8%
25	Great Yarmouth Borough Council	86	79	18	22.8%
26	Preston City Council	90	83	19	22.9%
27	Blaby District Council	101	83	19	22.9%
28	Oadby and Wigston Borough Council	48	48	11	22.9%
29	Eden District Council *	30	26	6	23.1%
30	London Borough of Newham	418	294	68	23.1%
31	Buckinghamshire Council - Chiltern Area *	304	254	59	23.2%
32	Worthing Borough Council	93	90	21	23.3%
33	Ashford Borough Council	282	260	61	23.5%
34	Kettering Borough Council *	28	21	5	23.8%
35	Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council	163	142	34	23.9%
36	Erewash Borough Council	56	50	12	24.0%
37	Rother District Council	317	279	67	24.0%
38	Durham County Council	305	254	61	24.0%
39	Horsham District Council	409	345	83	24.1%
40	Sedgemoor District Council *	64	54	13	24.1%
41	Mansfield District Council	34	33	8	24.2%
42	Rushmoor Borough Council	37	37	9	24.3%
43	London Borough of Croydon	1,053	1,007	246	24.4%
44	Runnymede Borough Council	180	151	37	24.5%
45	St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council	72	65	16	24.6%
46	Selby District Council *	152	93	23	24.7%
47	London Borough of Southwark	319	250	62	24.8%
48	Bury Metropolitan Borough Council	123	108	27	25.0%
49	Cotswold District Council	217	191	48	25.1%
50	Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council	150	138	35	25.4%
51	Cheltenham Borough Council	107	98	25	25.5%
52	Mid Sussex District Council	245	223	57	25.6%
53	Mid Suffolk District Council	320	281	72	25.6%
54	Lake District	228	121	31	25.6%
55	North Devon District Council	134	117	30	25.6%
56	City of Lincoln Council	40	39	10	25.6%
57	North Somerset Council	271	226	58	25.7%
58	Chelmsford Borough Council	363	330	85	25.8%
59	Northumberland County Council	396	345	89	25.8%
60	Thanet District Council	186	166	43	25.9%
61	Colchester Borough Council	387	327	85	26.0%
62	Hartlepool Borough Council *	64	50	13	26.0%
63	West Suffolk	212	196	51	26.0%
64	East Suffolk	318	298	78	26.2%
65	City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council	545	431	113	26.2%
66	Gloucester City Council	85	80	21	26.3%
67	Tendring District Council	284	270	71	26.3%
68	Darlington Borough Council	61	57	15	26.3%
69	Kingston-Upon-Hull City Council	106	95	25	26.3%
70	Carlisle City Council *	42	38	10	26.3%
71	Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council	231	205	54	26.3%
72	Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council	154	148	39	26.4%
73	London Borough of Tower Hamlets	351	302	80	26.5%
74	Central Bedfordshire	628	527	140	26.6%
75	Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council	207	184	49	26.6%
76	Gravesham Borough Council	305	280	75	26.8%
77	London Borough of Wandsworth	483	418	112	26.8%
78	Broxbourne Borough Council	181	153	41	26.8%
79	Salford City Council	111	104	28	26.9%
80	West Oxfordshire District Council	233	204	55	27.0%
81	Wyre Borough Council	127	107	29	27.1%
82	London Borough of Islington	506	457	124	27.1%
83	Kirklees Metropolitan Council	479	394	107	27.2%
84	London Borough of Lewisham	487	416	113	27.2%
85	Chesterfield Borough Council	58	55	15	27.3%
86	Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council	91	77	21	27.3%
87	Babergh District Council	235	219	60	27.4%
88	Epsom and Ewell Borough Council	181	175	48	27.4%
89	London Borough of Camden	523	431	119	27.6%
90	Braintree District Council	414	387	107	27.7%
91	Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council	335	311	86	27.7%
92	Winchester City Council	189	159	44	27.7%
93	Southampton City Council	149	119	33	27.7%
94	Canterbury City Council	233	209	58	27.8%
95	Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council	242	227	63	27.8%
96	South Norfolk District Council	138	133	37	27.8%
97	Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council	211	176	49	27.8%
98	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council	459	373	104	27.9%
99	City of York Council	300	258	72	27.9%
100	Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead	462	412	115	27.9%
101	Cambridge City Council	178	168	47	28.0%
102	Waltham Forest London Borough Council	520	467	131	28.1%
103	King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council	291	253	71	28.1%
104	Leeds City Council	1,108	992	279	28.1%
105	Dartford Borough Council	236	206	58	28.2%
106	Dorset	706	642	181	28.2%
107	Huntingdonshire District Council	208	198	56	28.3%
108	Folkestone and Hythe District Council	205	187	53	28.3%
109	Broads	41	28	8	28.6%
110	North Hertfordshire District Council	144	129	37	28.7%
111	London Borough of Redbridge	565	508	146	28.7%
112	Bath and North East Somerset Council	281	240	69	28.7%
113	Dover District Council	160	149	43	28.9%
114	Ribble Valley Borough Council	208	187	54	28.9%
115	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole	804	746	216	28.9%
116	Gosport Borough Council	25	24	7	29.2%
117	Leicester City Council	279	226	66	29.2%
118	Thurrock Borough Council	265	246	72	29.3%
119	London Borough of Ealing	635	462	136	29.4%
120	London Borough of Merton	248	231	68	29.4%
121	Mole Valley District Council	387	344	102	29.6%
122	Shropshire County Council	492	445	132	29.7%
123	Brighton and Hove City Council	447	397	118	29.7%
124	North East Derbyshire District Council	150	131	39	29.8%
125	Torridge District Council	157	131	39	29.8%
126	South Holland District Council	133	117	35	29.9%
127	Ashfield District Council	116	107	32	29.9%
128	Middlesbrough Council *	171	147	44	29.9%
129	Lichfield District Council	106	100	30	30.0%
130	London Borough of Bexley	412	360	108	30.0%
131	Milton Keynes Council	240	213	64	30.0%
132	Luton Borough Council	396	362	109	30.1%
133	Uttlesford District Council	543	517	156	30.2%
134	Teignbridge District Council	281	265	80	30.2%
135	North Tyneside Council	80	76	23	30.3%
136	South Downs	360	310	94	30.3%
137	Herefordshire Council	240	201	61	30.3%
138	Adur District Council	56	56	17	30.4%
139	Exeter City Council	171	158	48	30.4%
140	Wealden District Council	545	486	148	30.4%
141	Dacorum Borough Council	331	295	90	30.5%
142	Rutland County Council	117	108	33	30.6%
143	Oxford City Council	230	209	64	30.6%
144	Bassetlaw District Council	166	160	49	30.6%
145	Test Valley Borough Council	211	173	53	30.6%
146	North Warwickshire Borough Council	93	75	23	30.7%
147	Somerset West and Taunton *	124	101	31	30.7%
148	Spelthorne Borough Council	243	215	66	30.7%
149	City of London Council	52	52	16	30.8%
150	Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council	160	142	44	31.0%
151	Welwyn Hatfield Council	234	216	67	31.0%
152	Forest of Dean District Council	171	145	45	31.0%
153	Blackpool Borough Council	154	132	41	31.1%
154	London Borough of Lambeth	601	531	165	31.1%
155	Bedford Borough Council	483	402	125	31.1%
156	Brentwood Borough Council	233	212	66	31.1%
157	Harborough District Council	179	151	47	31.1%
158	North York Moors	70	61	19	31.1%
159	Vale of White Horse District Council	161	138	43	31.2%
160	Reading Borough Council	161	141	44	31.2%
161	Newark & Sherwood District Council	277	204	64	31.4%
162	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council	200	153	48	31.4%
163	Crawley Borough Council	117	105	33	31.4%
164	Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council	97	89	28	31.5%
165	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council	156	127	40	31.5%
166	Wokingham Borough Council	278	225	71	31.6%
167	Sevenoaks District Council	393	342	108	31.6%
168	Tunbridge Wells Borough Council	177	152	48	31.6%
169	Derby City Council	123	117	37	31.6%
170	Sunderland City Council	112	98	31	31.6%
171	Sheffield City Council	440	373	118	31.6%
172	Rushcliffe Borough Council	178	164	52	31.7%
173	Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council	178	164	52	31.7%
174	North East Lincolnshire Council	67	63	20	31.8%
175	Swindon Borough Council	161	154	49	31.8%
176	Gedling Borough Council	128	110	35	31.8%
177	Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council	302	282	90	31.9%
178	West Devon Borough Council	188	166	53	31.9%
179	Woking Borough Council	245	222	71	32.0%
180	Buckinghamshire Council - Wycombe Area *	394	349	113	32.4%
181	Burnley Borough Council	79	71	23	32.4%
182	London Borough of Enfield	655	602	195	32.4%
183	London Borough of Haringey	507	403	131	32.5%
184	St Albans City Council	377	367	120	32.7%
185	Fylde Borough Council	60	58	19	32.8%
186	London Borough of Havering	949	763	250	32.8%
187	Reigate and Banstead Borough Council	370	332	109	32.8%
188	Bracknell Forest Borough Council	146	140	46	32.9%
189	Wakefield Metropolitan District Council	313	246	81	32.9%
190	East Devon District Council	359	324	107	33.0%
191	Medway Council	254	221	73	33.0%
192	London Borough of Bromley	1,163	1,068	353	33.1%
193	South Kesteven District Council	174	166	55	33.1%
194	Tewkesbury Borough Council	229	178	59	33.1%
195	West Lancashire District Council	201	184	61	33.1%
196	Harrogate Borough Council *	216	199	66	33.2%
197	Birmingham City Council	772	687	228	33.2%
198	Swale Borough Council	279	250	83	33.2%
199	Stratford-on-Avon District Council	369	340	113	33.2%
200	Rossendale Borough Council	132	120	40	33.3%
201	Ipswich Borough Council	91	87	29	33.3%
202	South Tyneside Council	60	51	17	33.3%
203	London Borough of Sutton	380	357	119	33.3%
204	Southend-on-Sea City Council	335	307	103	33.6%
205	Stroud District Council	277	256	86	33.6%
206	Lewes District Council	130	125	42	33.6%
207	Waverley Borough Council	481	430	145	33.7%
208	Slough Borough Council	242	166	56	33.7%
209	South Cambridgeshire District Council	386	290	98	33.8%
210	South Somerset District Council *	78	68	23	33.8%
211	Dartmoor	132	118	40	33.9%
212	Warrington Borough Council	284	241	82	34.0%
213	South Lakeland District Council *	59	47	16	34.0%
214	Cornwall Council	1,196	975	332	34.1%
215	South Staffordshire District Council	227	185	63	34.1%
216	Torbay Council	299	270	92	34.1%
217	Watford Borough Council	217	196	67	34.2%
218	East Hertfordshire District Council	553	524	181	34.5%
219	Chichester District Council	327	260	90	34.6%
220	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council	47	46	16	34.8%
221	Coventry City Council	355	342	119	34.8%
222	Eastbourne Borough Council	72	66	23	34.8%
223	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council	113	106	37	34.9%
224	Cheshire West and Chester	543	461	161	34.9%
225	North Lincolnshire Council	220	180	63	35.0%
226	Arun District Council	226	197	69	35.0%
227	Peak District	184	174	61	35.1%
228	London Borough of Brent	1,124	759	269	35.4%
229	East Northamptonshire District Council *	35	31	11	35.5%
230	Rugby Borough Council	139	107	38	35.5%
231	City of Westminster Council	622	535	190	35.5%
232	Charnwood Borough Council	168	152	54	35.5%
233	Guildford Borough Council	531	466	166	35.6%
234	North West Leicestershire District Council	94	87	31	35.6%
235	Castle Point Borough Council	153	140	50	35.7%
236	London Borough of Hillingdon	933	786	281	35.8%
237	Bristol City Council	683	631	226	35.8%
238	East Cambridgeshire District Council	186	167	60	35.9%
239	Staffordshire Moorlands District Council	209	192	69	35.9%
240	Epping Forest District Council	732	648	233	36.0%
241	Pendle Borough Council	133	108	39	36.1%
242	High Peak Borough Council	125	119	43	36.1%
243	Derbyshire Dales District Council	161	138	50	36.2%
244	Three Rivers District Council	247	226	82	36.3%
245	Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council	154	135	49	36.3%
246	Redditch Borough Council	36	33	12	36.4%
247	Cheshire East	739	668	243	36.4%
248	London Borough of Harrow	679	604	220	36.4%
249	Royal Borough of Greenwich	638	612	223	36.4%
250	East Staffordshire Borough Council	82	74	27	36.5%
251	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council	242	211	77	36.5%
252	Elmbridge Borough Council	549	508	186	36.6%
253	Fareham Borough Council	82	68	25	36.8%
254	Amber Valley Borough Council	115	95	35	36.8%
255	Worcester City Council	107	95	35	36.8%
256	Wiltshire Council	665	588	217	36.9%
257	Warwick District Council	291	271	100	36.9%
258	Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames	412	393	146	37.1%
259	East Hampshire District Council	173	137	51	37.2%
260	Isle of Wight Council	252	230	86	37.4%
261	Buckinghamshire Council - South Bucks Area *	284	222	83	37.4%
262	Nottingham City Council	174	163	61	37.4%
263	Craven District Council *	52	48	18	37.5%
264	Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council	69	64	24	37.5%
265	West Berkshire District Council	240	213	80	37.6%
266	Manchester City Council	412	348	131	37.6%
267	London Borough of Barnet	1,484	1,214	457	37.6%
268	Harlow District Council	109	98	37	37.8%
269	Maidstone Borough Council	473	381	144	37.8%
270	Richmond Upon Thames London Borough Council	681	621	235	37.8%
271	South Hams District Council	294	263	100	38.0%
272	Hart District Council	273	252	96	38.1%
273	Surrey Heath Borough Council	281	257	98	38.1%
274	Fenland District Council	84	76	29	38.2%
275	Tandridge District Council	408	362	140	38.7%
276	Bolsover District Council	38	31	12	38.7%
277	Hastings Borough Council	98	93	36	38.7%
278	Telford and Wrekin Council	161	108	42	38.9%
279	Buckinghamshire Council - Aylesbury Area *	534	449	175	39.0%
280	Wolverhampton City Council	161	141	55	39.0%
281	South Oxfordshire District Council	272	233	91	39.1%
282	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council	224	204	80	39.2%
283	Stoke-on-Trent City Council	95	89	35	39.3%
284	Halton Borough Council	39	33	13	39.4%
285	Malvern Hills District Council	296	264	104	39.4%
286	Mid Devon District Council	108	93	37	39.8%
287	Maldon District Council	372	346	139	40.2%
288	London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham	367	316	127	40.2%
289	Bromsgrove District Council	190	171	69	40.4%
290	Allerdale Borough Council *	24	22	9	40.9%
291	Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council	212	193	79	40.9%
292	South Gloucestershire Council	454	384	158	41.1%
293	Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council	193	165	68	41.2%
294	Hambleton District Council *	106	97	40	41.2%
295	Hyndburn Borough Council	68	58	24	41.4%
296	Basildon District Council	444	310	129	41.6%
297	London Borough of Hounslow	720	675	281	41.6%
298	Chorley Borough Council	117	102	43	42.2%
299	London Borough of Hackney	741	597	252	42.2%
300	Liverpool City Council	564	547	231	42.2%
301	Cherwell District Council	257	232	98	42.2%
302	Stafford Borough Council	139	132	56	42.4%
303	Wyre Forest District Council	118	99	42	42.4%
304	Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea	454	393	168	42.8%
305	Hertsmere Borough Council	205	184	79	42.9%
306	South Derbyshire District Council	87	79	34	43.0%
307	Portsmouth City Council	189	175	76	43.4%
308	New Forest	131	99	43	43.4%
309	Rochford District Council	193	159	70	44.0%
310	Wychavon District Council	381	347	155	44.7%
311	Mendip District Council *	90	87	40	46.0%
312	Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council	67	63	31	49.2%
313	Melton Borough Council	63	56	28	50.0%
314	Broxtowe Borough Council	107	94	50	53.2%
315	Exmoor	28	24	13	54.2%
316	Stevenage Borough Council	26	20	12	60.0%

Paid plans add each council's appeal trend, written-reps vs hearing vs inquiry mix, and the appeal agents with the best win rates — the consultants who actually get refusals reversed.

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