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Most Common Planning Applications in Oldham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Oldham is 13.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,405 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
95.5%
Safest: Conservatory
82.1%
Lowest: New Build
13.4%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory1761688
95.5%
2Wraparound Extension26624917
93.6%
3Loft Conversion15014010
93.3%
4Basement52484
92.3%
5Rear Extension2,5902,372218
91.6%
6Flat Conversion46424
91.3%
7Side Extension1,4071,283124
91.2%
8HMO101929
91.1%
9Annex33303
90.9%
10Garage / Parking87178982
90.6%
11Dormer83675581
90.3%
12Hip-to-Gable Conversion62566
90.3%
13Extension (General)45641046
89.9%
14Change of Use (Residential)75967683
89.1%
15Front Extension28224537
86.9%
16Outbuilding16514223
86.1%
17New Build33027159
82.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 95.5% approval rate. New Build? Just 82.1%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 82.1% to 95.5%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
Visibility drives scrutiny. Project types that change the external appearance — dormers, loft conversions, hip-to-gable — face more resistance than those that don't. The more visible your proposal, the more carefully it needs designing.
3
These are council-wide averages. Your ward, your street and your immediate neighbours all shift the odds. The comparable decisions near your property are the best indicator of outcome.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

654 planning applications in Oldham have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A free, property-specific report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Oldham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 6,405 decisions in Oldham into residential project types using keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py subtype rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Data from Oldham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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