“Innovative” and “ground-breaking” plan published

Published Tuesday 1 October 2024

Later this year, two district councils will be submitting a plan to the government that aims to help meet their local communities’ need for housing, jobs and infrastructure – and they have now made it publicly available for a six-week period.

In September, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils unanimously gave the go ahead for their draft Joint Local Plan to be published for comment for six weeks.

If successfully adopted, the plan would replace the existing Local Plans for both councils.

In the new draft joint plan, the councils have shown that there are enough new homes in the pipeline already. This means that there is no need to build on any extra new greenfield sites over the next 15 years, beyond what has already been allocated. Only one area of expansion has been earmarked, which is on the brownfield land owned by the Ministry of Defence at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon.

Crucially, the plan also sets out new firmer environment policies so that development is net zero carbon and delivers twice the national level of biodiversity net gain to help with the recovery of nature.

From today (1 October), people can read through the plan and say whether they believe it meets all the relevant requirements to ensure it is sound and legally compliant.

Councillor Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It’s a big step forward for our communities that we’re at this stage earlier than anticipated. We’ve carried out significant, and successful public engagement over the past three years to help craft and develop this plan – this next step is a more technical process to test if the community believes the plan is sound and legally compliant.”

Councillor David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, added: “We’re one step closer to adopting this ground-breaking plan. I’d again like to thank all our hard-working staff for getting us to this stage and the public for their comments so far that have helped shape the plan into one that reflects the needs of our communities.”

Councillor Anne-Marie Simpson, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “This is an ambitious and innovative plan with policies such as increasing the proportion of affordable housing on large sites from 40% to 50% across South Oxfordshire, without increasing the total number of homes being built.”

Councillor Andy Foulsham, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Policy and Programmes, added: “I’m proud of this plan and how it looks to tackle the climate emergency and protect what’s important to our residents such as identifying parts of the districts which are valued landscapes or have dark skies or are especially prized for their tranquillity.”

After the six-week publication period has come to an end, the plan and the comments received will be submitted to the government to be examined by a planning inspector.

The Joint Local Plan is available for review and comment on its soundness and legal compliance and whether it meets the duty to cooperate until 12 November at www.southandvale.gov.uk/jlp