Planning permission in Cherwell

In the last 12 months, 92.2% of home project applications were approved in Cherwell (219 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about ten weeks (median 68 days).

Across all application types, 91.1% of 5,323 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on Cherwell's public planning register. Data last updated: 17 April 2026.

6,708Total applications

5,323Decided

91.1%Approval rate (of decided)

4,850 Approved+473 Refused+190 Withdrawn+837 Pending+358 Outcome not determined=6,708 Total

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Decision Level

5,771Delegated

120Committee

By Development Category

All applications on record, not only the last 12 months.

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	1,998	1,786	212	89.4%
Discharging planning conditions	1,260	1,202	58	95.4%
Tree works in a conservation area	501	491	10	98.0%
Listed Building Consent	421	393	28	93.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	277	219	58	79.1%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	175	156	19	89.1%
Prior approval (permitted development)	119	108	11	90.8%
Protected tree works (TPO)	110	104	6	94.5%
Advertisement Consent	67	62	5	92.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	66	55	11	83.3%
TCA - 5 Day Notice	64	64	0	no refusals recorded
Outline Planning	49	37	12	75.5%
Obligation	48	48	0	no refusals recorded
Agricultural to Residential (C3)	35	17	18	48.6%
Phone masts and telecoms	25	21	4	outcome not determined
Solar Photovoltaics	21	19	2	90.5%
Permission in Principle	21	9	12	42.9%
Other*	66	59	7	mixed types

TCA - 5 Day Notice: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Obligation: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Phone masts and telecoms: 176 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: HS2 Schedule 17 submissions (12), Class E Commercial to Residential (9), Application to Modify a Section 106 (7), Deemed Regs 3 (7), Hedge Notice (5), Minerals and waste (4), Agricultural to Flexible Uses within A1/A2/A3/B1/B8/C1/D2 (4), HS2 Schedule 16 submission (4), Adjacent Authority (3), Enforcement (3), Class G Commercial to mixed use upper floors (2), Office (B1) to Residential (C3) (1), Environmental impact screening and scoping (1), B1/C1/C2/C2A/D2 to State-Funded School or Registered Nursery (1), Retail and sui generis to Residential (1), Electricity Notification (1), Permission In Principle Technical Details Application (1).

Quarterly Trend

The most recent three years. Earlier decisions are included in the totals above but not in this chart.

Quarter	Decided	Approved	Approval rate
Q3 2023	139	128	92.1%
Q4 2023	559	491	87.8%
Q1 2024	496	436	87.9%
Q2 2024	465	411	88.4%
Q3 2024	527	469	89.0%
Q4 2024	556	531	95.5%
Q1 2025	374	347	92.8%
Q2 2025	420	393	93.6%
Q3 2025	519	484	93.3%
Q4 2025	488	451	92.4%
Q1 2026	443	411	92.8%
Q2 2026	5	5	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 330 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 87.2% in Kidlington East to 93.0% in Banbury Grimsbury And Hightown, a gap of 5.8 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Deddington	811	753	58	92.8%
Cropredy, Sibfords And Wroxton	757	691	66	91.3%
Launton And Otmoor	680	624	56	91.8%
Fringford And Heyfords	502	458	44	91.2%
Adderbury, Bloxham And Bodicote	425	391	34	92.0%
Kidlington West	303	273	30	90.1%
Banbury Cross And Neithrop	289	259	30	89.6%
Bicester South And Ambrosden	242	224	18	92.6%
Kidlington East	242	211	31	87.2%
Banbury Calthorpe And Easington	175	156	19	89.1%
Bicester East	172	156	16	90.7%
Banbury Grimsbury And Hightown	157	146	11	93.0%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Cherwell?

In the last 12 months, 92.2% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Cherwell, based on 219 decided applications. Across all application types, 91.1% of 5,323 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Cherwell?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Cherwell in the last 12 months was 68 days (about ten weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Cherwell?

It depends on the project and the property. Many home projects fall under permitted development rights, but constraints such as conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions change what needs permission at a specific address. See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.

Do I need a planning consultant in Cherwell?

Many home projects do not need one. A straightforward extension on an unconstrained property is often handled directly with the council, or with an architect or agent preparing the drawings. A consultant is more likely to earn their fee where the site is constrained, the council has refused similar schemes, or an appeal is in prospect. Understanding your property's constraints and the council's recent decisions first makes any conversation with a professional a better-informed one.

Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights, Article 4 directions and planning costs.

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