Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Oldham

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 2,361 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Oldham.

2,361 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated March 2026
90.8%
Approval Rate
2,361
Decisions
2,143
Approved
218
Refused
90.8% approved. But 218 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Oldham: Saddleworth South approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Werneth sits at 60.0%. That 40.0% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Saddleworth South55
100.0%
2Chadderton Central55
100.0%
3Chadderton North54
80.0%
4Saint Mary's54
80.0%
5Werneth53
60.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Saddleworth South but just 60.0% in Werneth.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Oldham.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory156
94.9%
Wraparound Extension240
92.9%
Loft Conversion138
92.8%
Basement50
92.0%
Rear Extension2,361
90.8%
Flat Conversion42
90.5%
Side Extension1,281
90.3%
Annex31
90.3%
Garage / Parking806
89.8%
HMO87
89.7%
Dormer751
89.2%
Extension (General)422
89.1%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion55
89.1%
Change of Use (Residential)682
88.0%
Front Extension256
85.5%
Outbuilding145
84.1%
New Build302
80.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
90.8% of rear extension applications in Oldham get approved. That means 218 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 40.0% gap between Saddleworth South (100.0%) and Werneth (60.0%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

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

218 rear extension applications in Oldham have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Oldham planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 2,361 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Oldham, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Oldham Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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