Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 1,303 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Oxford.
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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 | Decisions | Approved | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple Cowley Ward | 7 | 7 | 100.0% |
| 2 | Quarry And Risinghurst Ward | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 3 | Rose Hill And Iffley Ward | 7 | 6 | 85.7% |
| 4 | Summertown | 5 | 4 | 80.0% |
| 5 | Cowley Ward | 5 | 3 | 60.0% |
A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Temple Cowley Ward but just 60.0% in Cowley Ward.
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Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Oxford.
| Type | Decisions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Basement | 83 | 97.6% |
| Conservatory | 161 | 91.3% |
| Dormer | 454 | 91.2% |
| Loft Conversion | 344 | 90.7% |
| Extension (General) | 119 | 89.9% |
| Front Extension | 85 | 89.4% |
| Rear Extension | 1,303 | 88.9% |
| Hip-to-Gable Conversion | 123 | 87.8% |
| Outbuilding | 282 | 87.6% |
| Garage / Parking | 668 | 85.0% |
| Side Extension | 431 | 84.5% |
| Wraparound Extension | 136 | 83.8% |
| Change of Use (Residential) | 325 | 83.1% |
| New Build | 232 | 82.8% |
| Flat Conversion | 53 | 81.1% |
| HMO | 270 | 77.4% |
| Annex | 35 | 62.9% |
144 rear extension 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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