Planning permission in Oldham

In the last 12 months, 92.4% of home project applications were approved in Oldham (264 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about ten weeks (median 73 days).

Across all application types, 90.0% of 3,143 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Oldham's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

4,227Total applications

3,143Decided

90.0%Approval rate (of decided)

2,830 Approved+313 Refused+94 Withdrawn+721 Pending+269 Outcome not determined=4,227 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	1,312	1,156	156	88.1%
Full planning applications	638	572	66	89.7%
Discharging planning conditions	357	351	6	98.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	153	138	15	90.2%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	135	126	9	93.3%
Advertisement Consent	107	94	13	87.9%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	102	89	13	87.3%
Permitted Development (HH)	81	67	14	82.7%
Listed Building Consent	64	61	3	95.3%
Phone masts and telecoms	59	54	5	outcome not determined
Prior approval (permitted development)	33	32	1	97.0%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	25	24	1	96.0%
Other*	77	66	11	mixed types

Phone masts and telecoms: 260 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Outline Planning (19), Change of Use (19), Demolition (17), Environmental impact screening and scoping (5), Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) (5), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (4), Planning Permission in Principle (4), Enlargement of a dwellinghouse by constr (3), EIA Screening Scoping (Public) (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	84	72	85.7%
Q4 2023	259	231	89.2%
Q1 2024	221	202	91.4%
Q2 2024	284	247	87.0%
Q3 2024	240	210	87.5%
Q4 2024	220	195	88.6%
Q1 2025	247	223	90.3%
Q2 2025	362	316	87.3%
Q3 2025	295	280	94.9%
Q4 2025	262	241	92.0%
Q1 2026	200	186	93.0%
Q2 2026	39	39	100.0%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	2	2	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 364 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 86.2% in Werneth to 93.1% in Shaw, a gap of 6.9 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Coldhurst	316	293	23	92.7%
Saddleworth North	279	241	38	86.4%
Saddleworth South	256	237	19	92.6%
Chadderton South	226	208	18	92.0%
Saint Mary's	188	170	18	90.4%
Werneth	174	150	24	86.2%
Chadderton North	159	139	20	87.4%
Medlock Vale	147	132	15	89.8%
Saddleworth West And Lees	145	134	11	92.4%
Chadderton Central	142	124	18	87.3%
Failsworth East	140	126	14	90.0%
Shaw	131	122	9	93.1%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Oldham?

In the last 12 months, 92.4% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Oldham, based on 264 decided applications. Across all application types, 90.0% of 3,143 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Oldham?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Oldham in the last 12 months was 73 days (about ten weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Oldham?

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 Oldham?

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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