In the last 12 months, 93.2% of full planning applications were approved in Oxford (234 decided). A typical decision takes about eleven weeks (median 77 days).
Across all application types on record (2023-01-19–2026-06-18): 92.0% of 4,056 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Planning Application | 1,219 | 1,049 | 170 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 929 | 927 | 2 | |
| Discharge of Conditions | 766 | 744 | 22 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 245 | 196 | 49 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 161 | 160 | 1 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 134 | 131 | 3 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 113 | 100 | 13 | |
| Telecommunications | 111 | 110 | 1 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 107 | 99 | 8 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 84 | 65 | 19 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 73 | 47 | 26 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 66 | 61 | 5 | |
| Householder (Prior Approval) | 7 | 7 | 0 | |
| County Deemed Permission Reg 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Planning Obligation Modification | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| Reserved Matters | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Demolition | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| City Deemed Permission - Reg 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Prior App Extension/alt to Uni building | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Prior AppComm to mixuse inc up to 2 flat | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Consultation only - not planning app | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Outline Planning | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| S106 Agreement - Ist App | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| BNG Conditions | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| S106 Agreement - 3rd App | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Circ 34/76 O/Head Lines/28 Day Notificat | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Planning in Principle | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 315 | 283 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 336 | 308 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 328 | 310 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 372 | 337 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 329 | 285 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 379 | 342 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 309 | 281 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 335 | 312 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 375 | 358 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 283 | 272 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 289 | 274 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 32 | 32 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summertown | 397 | 392 | 5 | |
| Carfax And Jericho Ward | 378 | 365 | 13 | |
| Walton Manor Ward | 335 | 331 | 4 | |
| Holywell Ward | 282 | 278 | 4 | |
| Headington Hill And Northway Ward | 251 | 224 | 27 | |
| Osney And St. Thomas Ward | 218 | 203 | 15 | |
| Headington Ward | 205 | 184 | 21 | |
| Marston Ward | 199 | 159 | 40 | |
| Wolvercote Ward | 194 | 189 | 5 | |
| Quarry And Risinghurst Ward | 179 | 155 | 24 | |
| St Marys Ward | 135 | 126 | 9 | |
| Temple Cowley Ward | 134 | 116 | 18 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.