Oxford planning approval rate
Oxford council approved 91.5% of planning applications and refused 8.5%, based on 5,477 decisions analysed. Ranked 132nd out of 221 councils for strictness.
Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present
91.5%
overall approval rate
Planning in Oxford?
Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.
Approval rate by application type
Different application types have different approval rates in Oxford. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Oxford — mined from 5,477 proposal descriptions.
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Oxford. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
Holywell Ward (353 decided)
98.9%
Headington Ward (304 decided)
89.1%
Carfax Ward (273 decided)
95.6%
Headington Hill And Northway Ward (262 decided)
88.2%
Wolvercote Ward (254 decided)
96.5%
Marston Ward (249 decided)
87.1%
North Ward (243 decided)
98.4%
Quarry And Risinghurst Ward (240 decided)
90.0%
Cowley Ward (234 decided)
85.9%
Jericho And Osney Ward (208 decided)
91.3%
St Margarets Ward (199 decided)
97.0%
St Clement's Ward (199 decided)
89.4%
St Marys Ward (193 decided)
94.3%
Summertown Ward (192 decided)
93.8%
Lye Valley Ward (183 decided)
80.3%
Rose Hill And Iffley Ward (177 decided)
85.9%
Littlemore Ward (169 decided)
85.8%
Carfax And Jericho Ward (161 decided)
97.5%
Churchill Ward (153 decided)
87.6%
Summertown (150 decided)
98.0%
Wards in Oxford
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in Oxford, showing how the council decides real applications.
Application to certify that the proposed demolition of existing rear outbuilding · St Clement's Ward · Wed 04 May 2022
Erection of part single, part two storey rear extension. Insertion of 1no. windo · St Marys Ward · Wed 04 May 2022
Formation of a railing to south porch to match existing. · Carfax And Jericho Ward · Wed 04 May 2022
Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →
What gets approved near your property?
In Oxford, 1 in 12 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:
✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Oxford
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Get Oxford Pro Report — £79
Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 5,477 decisions.
Compare with nearby councils