Planning permission in West Oxfordshire

In the last 12 months, 96.4% of home project applications were approved in West Oxfordshire (166 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about seven weeks (median 52 days).

Across all application types, 93.4% of 3,357 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on West Oxfordshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

4,289Total applications

3,357Decided

93.4%Approval rate (of decided)

3,135 Approved+222 Refused+137 Withdrawn+41 Pending+754 Outcome not determined=4,289 Total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)	1,070	1,001	69	93.6%
Full planning applications	472	411	61	87.1%
Discharging planning conditions	453	440	13	97.1%
Listed Building Consent	343	337	6	98.3%
Tree works in a conservation area	340	340	0	no refusals recorded
Changing a planning condition (S73)	182	172	10	94.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	117	105	12	89.7%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	104	101	3	97.1%
Prior approval (permitted development)	46	33	13	71.7%
Protected tree works (TPO)	38	37	1	97.4%
Advertisement Consent	38	33	5	86.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	30	20	10	66.7%
Minerals and waste	30	30	0	no refusals recorded
Prior Determination 28 Days	26	26	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	68	49	19	mixed types

Tree works in a conservation area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

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

Prior Determination 28 Days: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Outline Planning (18), Conditions Biodiversity Gain Plan (12), Environmental impact screening and scoping (11), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (8), Agricultural to Flexible Use (5), Demolition (4), Permission in Principle (4), Phone masts and telecoms (3), County Council Regulation 3 (1), Modify or Discharge Planning Obligation (1), Miscellaneous development (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	105	94	89.5%
Q4 2023	255	220	86.3%
Q1 2024	319	286	89.7%
Q2 2024	222	203	91.4%
Q3 2024	303	284	93.7%
Q4 2024	274	260	94.9%
Q1 2025	307	292	95.1%
Q2 2025	289	278	96.2%
Q3 2025	258	243	94.2%
Q4 2025	248	238	96.0%
Q1 2026	270	259	95.9%
Q2 2026	72	72	100.0%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	52	51	98.1%
Q1 2205	1	1	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 321 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 92.4% in Chadlington and Churchill to 97.9% in Kingham, Rollright and Enstone, a gap of 5.5 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Kingham, Rollright and Enstone	387	379	8	97.9%
Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield	197	184	13	93.4%
Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt	186	178	8	95.7%
Woodstock and Bladon	182	169	13	92.9%
Stonesfield and Tackley	180	171	9	95.0%
Charlbury and Finstock	178	165	13	92.7%
Chipping Norton	175	164	11	93.7%
Eynsham and Cassington	172	161	11	93.6%
Burford	163	151	12	92.6%
Alvescot and Filkins	151	140	11	92.7%
Bampton and Clanfield	127	119	8	93.7%
Chadlington and Churchill	118	109	9	92.4%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in West Oxfordshire?

In the last 12 months, 96.4% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in West Oxfordshire, based on 166 decided applications. Across all application types, 93.4% of 3,357 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in West Oxfordshire?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in West Oxfordshire in the last 12 months was 52 days (about seven weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in West Oxfordshire?

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 West Oxfordshire?

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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