Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ 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 33.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,203 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026
98.0%
Safest: Basement
64.9%
Lowest: Annex
33.1%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Basement101992
98.0%
2Conservatory17716116
91.0%
3Dormer49745146
90.7%
4Loft Conversion37634036
90.4%
5Extension (General)12911613
89.9%
6Rear Extension1,3981,239159
88.6%
7Outbuilding30226636
88.1%
8Front Extension897811
87.6%
9Hip-to-Gable Conversion13411717
87.3%
10Garage / Parking715610105
85.3%
11Side Extension46639769
85.2%
12Wraparound Extension14512223
84.1%
13Change of Use (Residential)35629561
82.9%
14New Build23919841
82.8%
15Flat Conversion544410
81.5%
16HMO30023466
78.0%
17Annex372413
64.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 98.0% 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 98.0%. 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

526 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 6,203 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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