Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Growth & Infrastructure

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/112

Contact: Daniel Round, Strategic Policy Manager Tel: (01865) 815623

Report by Director for Environment, Economy & Customer Services (CA9).

Cherwell District Council has published the Cherwell Local Plan Proposed Submission Draft for consultation ahead of its submission to Government towards the end of the year.  A public examination is expected to follow in 2013, with the Plan adopted by March 2014. 

The Draft Local Plan will shape development in Cherwell for the period to 2031.  Growth is focused primarily at Bicester and to a lesser extent at Banbury, with more limited growth at Kidlington and in the larger villages.

This report and its annexes sets out the County Council’s response to the consultation and highlights the key issues for this authority over the next 20 years in Cherwell.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to inform Cherwell District Council that:

(a)              Oxfordshire County Council believes the Draft Local Plan is broadly sound, subject to our representations in Annex 3 being addressed;

(b)              In principle, Oxfordshire County Council supports the strategic allocated development sites that have been identified in the Draft Local Plan;

(c)               Oxfordshire County Council supports the proposed Green Belt review at Langford Lane/Oxford Airport but requests that this is expanded to incorporate the land in the vicinity of Begbroke Science Park to be considered for key sector employment growth; and

(d)              Oxfordshire County Council requests that the detailed officer comments as outlined in Annex 4 are taken into account before the Plan is submitted to Government.

The Director for Environment, Economy & Customer Services undertook to include the comment on primary school places to be found under the heading Banbury on page 4 Appendix 4 in the section on Villages on that same page.

Cabinet considered a report advising that Cherwell District Council had published the Cherwell Local Plan Proposed Submission Draft for consultation ahead of its submission to Government towards the end of the year.  A public examination was expected to follow in 2013, with the Plan adopted by March 2014. 

The report and its annexes set out the County Council’s response to the consultation and highlighted the key issues for this authority over the next 20 years in Cherwell.

Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles introduced the contents of the report emphasising her support for the review of Green Belt at Begbrooke. She thanked Daniel Round for all his efforts and her views were echoed by Cabinet Members. Councillor Heathcoat added her thanks to the Cabinet Member.

Councillor Mallon expressed the view that on page 113 and elsewhere when talking about public transport we should add the words where appropriate

Responding to a further comment from Councillor Mallon The Director for Environment & Economy undertook to include the comment on primary school places to be found under the heading Banbury on page 4 Appendix 4 in the section on Villages on that same page.

Responding to a query from Councillor Carter Daniel Round outlined the involvement of the Town Councils, advising that Bicester were slightly more advanced in the process than Banbury but that they had both bought in to the master planning process and were broadly content at this stage.

RESOLVED:                        to inform Cherwell District Council that:

(a)               Oxfordshire County Council believes the Draft Local Plan is broadly sound, subject to our representations in Annex 3 being addressed;

(b)               In principle, Oxfordshire County Council supports the strategic allocated development sites that have been identified in the Draft Local Plan;

(c)               Oxfordshire County Council supports the proposed Green Belt review at Langford Lane/Oxford Airport but requests that this is expanded to incorporate the land in the vicinity of Begbroke Science Park to be considered for key sector employment growth; and

(d)               Oxfordshire County Council requests that the detailed officer comments as outlined in Annex 4 are taken into account before the Plan is submitted to Government