Limited recent decision data is available for Manchester, so we don't show a headline approval rate here — the figures below cover all application types on record.
Across all application types on record (2023-01-13–2026-04-27): 88.8% of 10,731 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discharge of Conditions | 3,189 | 2,922 | 267 | |
| Householder | 2,221 | 2,048 | 173 | |
| Full Planning Application | 1,676 | 1,359 | 317 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 572 | 449 | 123 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 483 | 465 | 18 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 444 | 332 | 112 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 438 | 406 | 32 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 414 | 411 | 3 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 355 | 326 | 29 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 243 | 178 | 65 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 198 | 189 | 9 | |
| Householder (Prior Approval) | 139 | 132 | 7 | |
| Regulation 3 Consent | 116 | 116 | 0 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 83 | 68 | 15 | |
| Telecommunications | 54 | 43 | 11 | |
| Demolition | 39 | 38 | 1 | |
| Prior Approval (Class MA — Commercial to Residential) | 35 | 29 | 6 | |
| Enforcement | 12 | 4 | 8 | |
| Outline Planning | 7 | 3 | 4 | |
| Change of Use | 7 | 7 | 0 | |
| Reserved Matters | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Uncategorised | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Permission In Principle Application | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 706 | 654 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 915 | 828 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 977 | 856 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 959 | 833 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 922 | 819 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 930 | 807 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 726 | 647 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 1,038 | 917 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 933 | 830 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 980 | 858 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 776 | 691 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 13 | 13 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deansgate Ward | 1,637 | 1,522 | 115 | |
| Piccadilly Ward | 944 | 855 | 89 | |
| Didsbury West Ward | 576 | 533 | 43 | |
| Chorlton Ward | 444 | 400 | 44 | |
| Didsbury East Ward | 402 | 371 | 31 | |
| Chorlton Park Ward | 389 | 347 | 42 | |
| Cheetham Ward | 374 | 314 | 60 | |
| Ancoats & Beswick Ward | 368 | 344 | 24 | |
| Hulme Ward | 368 | 345 | 23 | |
| Ardwick Ward | 367 | 331 | 36 | |
| Whalley Range Ward | 338 | 298 | 40 | |
| Rusholme Ward | 310 | 259 | 51 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.