Witney News - District Council's response to SE Plan

District Council's response to SE Plan

The West Oxfordshire District Council generally supports the overall 20 year planning strategy and the level of new housing
proposed for West Oxfordshire contained in the draft South East England Regional Plan submitted to the Government for approval. Much of the new housing growth in the County beyond existing commitments is being steered to Oxford, Bicester, Didcot, Wantage and Grove.

However, the Council is stressing the need for the provision of timely infrastructure alongside growth, and Cllr Verena Hunt, Cabinet Member for Planning added, “The necessary infrastructure still remains to be delivered to support growth that has already taken place.”

Cllr Hunt also said, “Although the significantly higher targets for provision of affordable housing are supported, these can only be delivered through increased levels of public subsidy. We have been making these points all along and it is important that we re-iterate them now.”

An independent panel of inspectors has been appointed to consider all comments received on the draft SE Plan. They will hold an Examination in Public during the winter before reporting their findings to the Government next year. The SE Plan will replace the current Oxfordshire Structure Plan.