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Views invited on West Oxfordshire’s draft Local Plan

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Residents in West Oxfordshire are being given the chance to have their say on a key planning document which will affect the development of the district over the next 15 years.

Proposed changes to the draft Local Plan are now the subject of a six-week public consultation which starts today. <>

10 November 2016

Under the revised proposals which were approved by councillors on 26 October, a total of 15,950 homes are set to be built by 2031, of which 2,750 have been allocated as the District’s contribution to Oxford’s unmet housing need.

Key sites include 2,200 homes at the proposed Garden Village to the north of Eynsham along with an urban extension to the west of Eynsham which will add a further 1,000 new homes.

Other major sites will include increasing the number of homes in North Witney from 1,000 to 1,400; new allocations in Woodstock adding 670 properties; increasing the development area at Tank Farm, Chipping Norton from 600 to 1,400 homes and building a further 570 homes at three sites in Carterton in addition to over 1,000 homes which are already committed in and around the town.

Cllr Jeff Haine, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Economy, said: “This draft Local Plan is highly significant as it will play a key role in the future development of West Oxfordshire.

“As a result, we welcome any views submitted by residents and businesses as they will help influence the final version.”

The proposed changes to the draft Local Plan have been made following concerns raised by the Planning Inspector in January that the earlier draft was not consistent with Oxfordshire’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment and that it did not take into account the housing need identified for Oxford.

Public exhibitions are being held at:

  • Witney Corn Exchange on 17 November from 2.30-8pm
  • Chipping Norton Town Hall, 23 November, 2.30- 8pm
  • Carterton Town Hall, 29 November, 2.30-8pm
  • St Leonard’s Church Hall, Eynsham, 12 December, 2.30-8pm and
  • Woodstock Community Centre, 14 December, 2.30-8pm

Once the consultation ends on 23 December the proposed changes will be re-submitted to the Inspector together with all comments received and supporting background information. It is expected further examination hearings will then take place in spring 2017.

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation can obtain a form online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/localplan2031 or by calling the Planning Policy Team on 01993 861667.

Further information:

Communications: t: 01993 861615, m: 07771965360, e: [email protected]

Andrew Smith

Communications Officer (Working days Wed, Thurs, Fri)
West Oxfordshire District Council, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1NB
t: 01993 861616 / 01993 861000

Hearing dates set for Local Plan Examination

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West Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan examination is underway and dates are set for two separate hearing sessions.

The first session dealing with strategic matters will begin at 10am on Monday 23 November and will run until Thursday 26 November. The second examination session will begin on Wednesday 3 February 2016.

All hearing sessions will be held at the Council’s Woodgreen offices in Witney

The District Council formally submitted its draft Local Plan to Government for independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate in July 2015.

Responses were received from around 150 individuals and organisations during the final 6-week consultation stage which was held earlier this year (27 March – 8 May), and all these were submitted for consideration together with the draft Local Plan and a range of supporting documents.

Planning Inspector Mr Simon Emerson BSc DipTP MRTPI has been appointed and he will determine whether or not the plan is ‘sound’ in light of the representations received and national policy.

Further information on the process and copies of the documents that have been submitted are available on the Council’s local plan web page at www.westoxon.gov.uk/localplan2031

Cllr Warwick Robinson, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Housing, said: “We are approaching what we hope will be the conclusion of a Local Plan for West Oxfordshire. Although it has been a long and complex process, we have been very thorough, consulting at each stage, investigating every detail presented to us and providing the evidence needed to support the Plan.

“We have a lot to thank the public for all their representations, contributions and proposals along the way. However, we recognise it will never be possible to produce a Plan that pleases everyone, but we believe that what is being put forward to the Inspector is the best for West Oxfordshire.”