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

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 35.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

5,477 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
98.7%
Safest: Basement
62.9%
Lowest: Annex
35.8%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Basement79781
98.7%
2Front Extension82757
91.5%
3Dormer44941039
91.3%
4Conservatory15714314
91.1%
5Loft Conversion34130932
90.6%
6Extension (General)11610412
89.7%
7Rear Extension1,2771,139138
89.2%
8Hip-to-Gable Conversion12110714
88.4%
9Outbuilding27524035
87.3%
10Garage / Parking65655799
84.9%
11Side Extension41735364
84.7%
12Wraparound Extension13411321
84.3%
13Change of Use (Residential)31526154
82.9%
14New Build23119140
82.7%
15Flat Conversion534310
81.1%
16HMO26120259
77.4%
17Annex352213
62.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 98.7% approval rate. Annex? Just 62.9%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 62.9% to 98.7%. 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

467 planning applications in Oxford 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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More Oxford planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 5,477 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 present. Full methodology →
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