Witney News - ‘Planning for the future’ consultation

‘Planning for the future’ consultation

West Oxfordshire District Council is seeking comments on major development choices the District faces over the next 15 years.

A fully worked up Plan has yet to be produced but a consultation document sets out the Council’s thoughts so far and the broad choices to be made. The likely approach on housing and employment strategy and response to climate change is described.

The ‘Core Strategy So Far’ document looks at how the housing targets being set by the Government will be met in West Oxfordshire. Over the next 10 years new housing, employment and leisure development is proposed in the Downs Road area to the west of Witney. Further development will take place at Carterton and Chipping Norton. The Council is looking at whether another area for expansion of Witney should be planned for during the years beyond 2016 or whether there are preferable options for sustainable development elsewhere in the district.

Public consultation will take place over the next few weeks up to Monday 6th April. The Council prefers to receive responses online via www.westoxon.gov.uk/LDF although relevant documents will be available for inspection at:
Elmfield Office and Town Centre Shop, Witney
The Guildhall, Chipping Norton
Public libraries in the district

Cllr Warwick Robinson, Cabinet Member for Planning said, “This is the next stage in involving our partners and the local community in deciding how West Oxfordshire will develop over the coming years. There are some difficult decisions to be made and we need to know that all the possible options for the future have been fully investigated.”

Further information about the consultation and the new ‘Planning for the future’ (LDF) process is on www.westoxon.gov.uk/LDF. Interactive maps showing sites submitted can also be viewed on the website.