South East

Cherwell planning statistics

Householder applications decided in the year to June 2026, compared with the rest of England.

Search planning applications Cherwell council website

How long does planning permission take in Cherwell?

Cherwell decided 47.1% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Cherwell is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

47.1%

247th of 297

15.6 points slower than England

Granted

92.6%

142nd of 297

2.1 points higher than England

Extension of time

41.4%

222nd of 297

9.1 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

486

Cherwell decided 486 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 92.6%.

47.1% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (247th of 297 for speed).

A further 41.4% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is down from 52.5% a year earlier.

Of 13 householder appeals decided in the same period, 46.2% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Cherwell against England, share of householder decisions each quarter

Within 8 weeks, no extension
Extension of time
England, within 8 weeks

Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk

Show data

Quarter	Within 8 weeks, no extension	Extension of time	England, within 8 weeks
2008 Q1	90.2%	0.0%	89.5%
2008 Q2	69.5%	0.0%	89.4%
2008 Q3	73.9%	0.0%	89.7%
2008 Q4	66.7%	0.0%	90.3%
2009 Q1	86.8%	0.0%	90.3%
2009 Q2	90.7%	0.0%	91.7%
2009 Q3	95.1%	0.0%	91.4%
2009 Q4	96.8%	0.0%	91.0%
2010 Q1	95.9%	0.0%	88.8%
2010 Q2	100.0%	0.0%	89.8%
2010 Q3	95.3%	0.0%	88.4%
2010 Q4	96.2%	0.0%	87.7%
2011 Q1	96.0%	0.0%	86.4%
2011 Q2	87.0%	0.0%	85.9%
2011 Q3	93.7%	0.0%	84.9%
2011 Q4	92.6%	0.0%	84.9%
2012 Q1	91.1%	0.0%	83.7%
2012 Q2	91.3%	0.0%	84.2%
2012 Q3	90.1%	0.0%	82.9%
2012 Q4	94.3%	0.0%	85.2%
2013 Q1	89.1%	0.0%	85.7%
2013 Q2	78.9%	0.0%	86.3%
2013 Q3	78.2%	0.0%	85.3%
2013 Q4	87.3%	0.0%	86.3%
2014 Q1	83.6%	0.0%	85.4%
2014 Q2	82.4%	0.0%	84.9%
2014 Q3	71.6%	0.0%	82.5%
2014 Q4	79.3%	0.0%	82.1%
2015 Q1	73.6%	0.0%	80.4%
2015 Q2	75.9%	10.9%	80.6%
2015 Q3	81.8%	9.4%	79.2%
2015 Q4	76.9%	16.1%	80.0%
2016 Q1	88.3%	9.7%	78.3%
2016 Q2	86.1%	11.5%	79.8%
2016 Q3	90.0%	8.3%	77.7%
2016 Q4	85.5%	8.8%	78.0%
2017 Q1	85.6%	7.7%	77.3%
2017 Q2	86.8%	8.5%	78.5%
2017 Q3	88.0%	5.2%	76.1%
2017 Q4	77.8%	11.3%	77.1%
2018 Q1	83.5%	8.8%	73.7%
2018 Q2	80.8%	10.3%	74.0%
2018 Q3	85.5%	11.0%	72.7%
2018 Q4	72.6%	24.2%	72.7%
2019 Q1	71.0%	24.4%	69.9%
2019 Q2	75.6%	18.9%	72.1%
2019 Q3	72.9%	18.2%	69.6%
2019 Q4	64.7%	26.3%	71.5%
2020 Q1	50.6%	31.3%	68.4%
2020 Q2	57.1%	27.0%	63.9%
2020 Q3	72.4%	18.9%	63.8%
2020 Q4	65.3%	18.0%	65.3%
2021 Q1	40.0%	31.5%	59.4%
2021 Q2	68.5%	20.7%	58.4%
2021 Q3	65.6%	28.2%	53.1%
2021 Q4	62.1%	33.9%	53.0%
2022 Q1	59.4%	33.3%	51.6%
2022 Q2	49.4%	46.5%	56.0%
2022 Q3	29.6%	63.9%	53.3%
2022 Q4	32.8%	61.7%	54.1%
2023 Q1	40.6%	56.1%	53.5%
2023 Q2	38.0%	59.1%	58.5%
2023 Q3	57.3%	34.8%	59.0%
2023 Q4	48.6%	35.0%	59.8%
2024 Q1	52.1%	33.7%	58.8%
2024 Q2	51.1%	41.1%	64.4%
2024 Q3	59.1%	31.6%	64.2%
2024 Q4	51.0%	43.4%	65.6%
2025 Q1	56.0%	36.7%	62.1%
2025 Q2	45.1%	42.2%	65.0%
2025 Q3	46.1%	45.4%	62.5%
2025 Q4	51.4%	34.2%	64.7%
2026 Q1	45.7%	45.7%	60.6%
2026 Q2	45.8%	39.0%	62.7%

Share of applications granted

Cherwell against England

Cherwell
England

Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk

Show data

Quarter	Cherwell	England
2008 Q1	89.7%	85.1%
2008 Q2	92.6%	86.1%
2008 Q3	93.4%	86.3%
2008 Q4	90.5%	85.3%
2009 Q1	92.6%	85.9%
2009 Q2	92.2%	86.8%
2009 Q3	95.1%	87.4%
2009 Q4	96.1%	86.9%
2010 Q1	93.5%	87.0%
2010 Q2	94.0%	88.0%
2010 Q3	93.4%	87.7%
2010 Q4	95.6%	87.5%
2011 Q1	89.3%	87.9%
2011 Q2	94.7%	88.5%
2011 Q3	91.4%	88.3%
2011 Q4	93.7%	88.3%
2012 Q1	87.9%	88.2%
2012 Q2	90.8%	89.2%
2012 Q3	92.4%	89.0%
2012 Q4	96.8%	88.9%
2013 Q1	98.6%	89.8%
2013 Q2	93.8%	90.6%
2013 Q3	96.9%	90.3%
2013 Q4	94.3%	89.6%
2014 Q1	95.7%	89.8%
2014 Q2	96.7%	90.5%
2014 Q3	97.9%	90.0%
2014 Q4	94.7%	89.2%
2015 Q1	96.6%	89.3%
2015 Q2	95.9%	90.2%
2015 Q3	89.5%	90.0%
2015 Q4	86.9%	89.2%
2016 Q1	90.3%	90.0%
2016 Q2	88.0%	90.3%
2016 Q3	88.7%	90.2%
2016 Q4	88.1%	89.7%
2017 Q1	87.3%	89.9%
2017 Q2	88.5%	90.5%
2017 Q3	89.1%	90.0%
2017 Q4	93.3%	90.1%
2018 Q1	92.3%	90.5%
2018 Q2	96.2%	91.0%
2018 Q3	96.0%	91.2%
2018 Q4	94.9%	90.5%
2019 Q1	96.4%	90.3%
2019 Q2	94.5%	91.0%
2019 Q3	90.6%	90.6%
2019 Q4	92.3%	89.8%
2020 Q1	91.9%	89.9%
2020 Q2	93.3%	90.2%
2020 Q3	91.8%	90.6%
2020 Q4	88.0%	90.3%
2021 Q1	92.0%	90.9%
2021 Q2	87.2%	91.2%
2021 Q3	87.5%	91.0%
2021 Q4	90.2%	90.1%
2022 Q1	88.3%	90.0%
2022 Q2	86.9%	90.4%
2022 Q3	86.4%	89.8%
2022 Q4	85.2%	89.4%
2023 Q1	87.2%	89.3%
2023 Q2	87.7%	89.2%
2023 Q3	80.5%	88.6%
2023 Q4	83.6%	88.2%
2024 Q1	89.6%	88.2%
2024 Q2	85.8%	89.1%
2024 Q3	92.4%	89.4%
2024 Q4	95.8%	88.6%
2025 Q1	97.2%	89.3%
2025 Q2	94.8%	90.4%
2025 Q3	96.1%	90.1%
2025 Q4	91.9%	90.1%
2026 Q1	89.5%	90.6%
2026 Q2	91.5%	91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

Within 8 weeks47.1%
8 to 13 weeks8.2%
13 to 26 weeks2.3%
Over 26 weeks1.0%
Extension of time agreed41.4%

Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk

Show data

Time taken	Decisions
Within 8 weeks	229
8 to 13 weeks	40
13 to 26 weeks	11
Over 26 weeks	5
Extension of time agreed	201

Appeals

Decided: 13
Allowed: 46.2%
Median wait: 12 weeks

Householder appeals to the Planning Inspectorate decided in the same 12 months. England: 34.4% allowed.

Refusals overturned at appeal

7.8% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 30 appeals allowed against 376 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

119th lowest of 299 planning authorities. England: 8.9% (July 2021 to June 2026).

Householder refusals from MHCLG table PS2; appeals allowed from the Planning Inspectorate. Approximate: appeals decided in the period, which can relate to earlier refusals.

Larger home extensions (prior approval)

Single-storey rear extensions deeper than 4 metres on a detached house (3 metres otherwise), up to 8 metres (6 metres), can use prior approval instead of a planning application, except in conservation areas, National Landscapes and other protected areas.

Of 14 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 13 needed no approval, 0 were approved and 1 was refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

8 planning enforcement notices issued in the year to June 2026.

0.11 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 137th highest of 294 planning authorities.

Covers all types of development, not only extensions.

MHCLG table P130; homes from the VOA Council Tax stock of properties.

Protected areas

60 conservation areas: Adderbury, Ardley, Balscote, Banbury, Barford St John, Barford St Michael, Begbroke, Bicester, Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote, Charlton-on-Otmoor and 48 more.

Cherwell has not published its Article 4 directions to the national planning data service, so the count may be incomplete.

Both can remove permitted development rights, so check with the council before relying on them. Permitted development rules

To check one postcode for a conservation area, listed buildings nearby, flood zone and radon, use the address check.

planning.data.gov.uk.

Builders

790 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 10.8 per 1,000 homes, about 0.6 householder decisions per firm a year.

121st highest of 294 planning authorities. England median: 10.1 per 1,000 homes and 0.5 decisions per firm.

Counts VAT or PAYE registered firms only, rounded to 5 by ONS; self-employed builders below the VAT threshold aren't included.

Finding a builder

ONS UK Business Counts; homes from the VOA Council Tax stock of properties; decisions from MHCLG table PS2.

Compared with neighbouring councils

Decisions and approvals in the year to June 2026; overturns over each council's appeal window; builders per 1,000 homes in 2026.

Decided within 8 weeks, no extension

Granted

Refusals overturned at appeal

Registered building firms per 1,000 homes

Questions about planning in Cherwell

How long does planning permission take in Cherwell?

Cherwell decided 47.1% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Is my house in a conservation area in Cherwell?

60 conservation areas: Adderbury, Ardley, Balscote, Banbury, Barford St John, Barford St Michael, Begbroke, Bicester, Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote, Charlton-on-Otmoor and 48 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Cherwell?

790 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 10.8 per 1,000 homes, about 0.6 householder decisions per firm a year. Counts VAT or PAYE registered firms only, rounded to 5 by ONS; self-employed builders below the VAT threshold aren't included.

Do I need planning permission for an extension in Cherwell?

Many extensions can be built under permitted development without an application, but conservation areas and Article 4 directions can remove those rights, so check whether your address is in a conservation area or covered by an Article 4 direction before relying on them. Do you need planning permission?

Property prices and energy performance in Cherwell

Homes sold July 2023 to June 2026, matched to the floor area and energy rating on their Energy Performance Certificate.

Median price per m²

£4,021

6,336 sales

8% below South East

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

62.1%

Median energy score 71

9.5 points above South East

Value added by extending, per m²

£2,240

18.8% on the sale price

7% below South East

Energy upgrade, no extension

+4.1%

Sale-price uplift when the energy score rose 5+ points

In line with South East

The median home sold in Cherwell was £353,000 for 87 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 27% since 2015 (£3,211 to £4,082 per m², 2025). Across all 54,632 homes with a certificate, 59.3% are rated A to C on their latest one.

327 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 29 m². They sold for a median 18.8% more than similar unextended houses, £2,240 for each m² added. Will an extension pay for itself here?

Medians from HM Land Registry sale prices and MHCLG Energy Performance Certificates; groups under 30 sales or 50 extended houses are not shown. These describe past sales across many homes, not a valuation of any one. How these are worked out

Next steps for your extension

Compare every council · How we calculate these figures

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