Skip to content
  • Advance notice of major council IT system maintenance from 24 May (for around one week): we are carrying out planned essential maintenance work on the council’s IT systems. During this time, the majority of our online services will be unavailable. Where relevant, planning consultations will be extended by 14 days. We will update this banner message as the work progresses. − During this time you can still contact us for other enquiries via our enquiry form or by phone. We apologise for any inconvenience. Find out more information on this work.

Landscape

Our Landscape team advises our own Development and Planning Policy teams to help ensure our local environment is better protected for future generations.

Landscape Planning Policy

When providing advice and guidance our landscape team will consider national and local Planning Policy, including Neighbourhood Plans and best practice, along with policies contained in our Joint Design Guide (2022) The most up to date Landscape Character Assessment is the NHL04 Landscape Character Assessment for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse September 2024.

The Landscape team will also consider how a development will support open space and nearby play areas via developer contributions. Please see the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

If you are submitting a planning application, please ensure that the landscape information is in line with the other information you submitting. Key areas where issues often occur are biodiversity, trees, drainage, service runs, street lighting, highways and visibility splays. Reference should be made to Oxfordshire County Council Design Guidance.

Emerging Joint Local Plan 2041 Landscape Evidence Base

The emerging Joint Local Plan 2041 Examination Library also includes an evidence base to support emerging local plan policies including:

National Landscapes

When developments are in or near to the North Wessex Downs National Landscape then consideration will also be given to the North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan and associated documents.

When developments are in or near to the Chilterns National Landscape then consideration will also be given to the planning guidance and management plan prepared by the Chilterns Conservation Board.

Contact us - Planning

01235 422600
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)

planning@southoxon.gov.uk

South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE