Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 1,277 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Oxford.
See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.
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 | Wolvercote Ward | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 2 | Marston Ward | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 3 | Donnington Ward | 7 | 7 | 100.0% |
| 4 | Quarry And Risinghurst Ward | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 5 | Lye Valley Ward | 6 | 5 | 83.3% |
| 6 | Cowley Ward | 6 | 4 | 66.7% |
A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Wolvercote Ward but just 66.7% in Cowley Ward.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.
Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Oxford.
| Type | Decisions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Basement | 79 | 98.7% |
| Front Extension | 82 | 91.5% |
| Dormer | 449 | 91.3% |
| Conservatory | 157 | 91.1% |
| Loft Conversion | 341 | 90.6% |
| Extension (General) | 116 | 89.7% |
| Rear Extension | 1,277 | 89.2% |
| Hip-to-Gable Conversion | 121 | 88.4% |
| Outbuilding | 275 | 87.3% |
| Garage / Parking | 656 | 84.9% |
| Side Extension | 417 | 84.7% |
| Wraparound Extension | 134 | 84.3% |
| Change of Use (Residential) | 315 | 82.9% |
| New Build | 231 | 82.7% |
| Flat Conversion | 53 | 81.1% |
| HMO | 261 | 77.4% |
| Annex | 35 | 62.9% |
138 rear extension 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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