Witney News - Draft Local Plan event prompts big response

Draft Local Plan event prompts big response

Residents and businesses in Witney flocked to the first public exhibition of the West Oxfordshire draft Local Plan.

Within the first hour of opening at the town’s Corn Exchange, scores of people had gathered to find out more about the proposals which concern the development of the district over the next 15 years.

Information boards and maps highlighted the key areas of the draft Local Plan under which a total of 15,950 homes are set to be built by 2031, while officers were on hand to answer questions.

West Oxfordshire District Council Leader James Mills said: “This is an opportunity for the public to have their say on the future development of the district and is incredibly important.

“Their suggestions feeds back directly to the Council and we will examine them to see if there are any areas that need addressing.”

The draft Local Plan outlines key sites such as the 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.

Further public exhibitions are being held from 2.30 - 8pm at:
• Chipping Norton Town Hall on 23 November
• Carterton Town Hall on 29 November
• Eynsham, St Leonard’s Church Hall on 12 December
• Woodstock Community Centre on 14 December

Once the consultation ends 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.
The deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday 23 December 2016.

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.