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Most Common Planning Applications in Oxford

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Oxford is 33.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

3,573 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
98.1%
Safest: Basement
64.9%
Lowest: Annex
33.2%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Basement1041022
98.1%
2Conservatory18416816
91.3%
3Dormer53147853
90.0%
4Extension (General)13412014
89.6%
5Loft Conversion40035842
89.5%
6Rear Extension1,4511,283168
88.4%
7Outbuilding32228339
87.9%
8Hip-to-Gable Conversion14712918
87.8%
9Front Extension938112
87.1%
10Side Extension48941772
85.3%
11Garage / Parking743632111
85.1%
12Wraparound Extension15212824
84.2%
13New Build24220141
83.1%
14Change of Use (Residential)37430965
82.6%
15Flat Conversion554510
81.8%
16HMO32125170
78.2%
17Annex372413
64.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 98.1% approval rate. Annex? Just 64.9%.
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: 64.9% to 98.1%. 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

445 planning applications in Oxford 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 Oxford planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 3,573 decisions in Oxford 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 Oxford Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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