Community event kicks off next stage of ambitious future strategy for the Carterton area

The Council is looking to develop the ‘Carterton Area Strategy’ - a plan for the future of the area, looking at how growth can deliver for local communities, from generating new jobs to improving infrastructure and community facilities, and much more. 

Cllr Tim Sumner, Executive Member for the Carterton Area Strategy said, “We had a fantastic first meeting today discussing the potential for the Carterton area with local residents.  

“The Carterton Area Strategy will be our ambitious plan for the future of the area, and by ‘our plan’ I mean the plan of residents, key stakeholders and community organisations. Through conversations such as these we can deliver for Carterton in a way that hasn't happened in the past.  

“We know growth needs to happen – because we need more homes, better local facilities and improved infrastructure to support a growing population - but that growth can be designed by this community and we want big ideas on how that could happen to address the issues we know the community faces.  

“At the event we heard clear messages about the need for better infrastructure, regeneration of the town centre and the importance of creating more local job opportunities. These are the things that matter most to people, and they will be at the heart of this strategy. We want to build this plan with the local community and today was an important first step on that journey with many more conversations to follow.” 

Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “These conversations with the public will demonstrate that the voice of the community is heard in a real way, with meaningful actions that address their vision for the future. We know that regeneration, investment and infrastructure demands have not come to fruition. This time I, as Leader of the Council, make it my priority alongside the rest of the Executive to work night and day to make this happen with the community, for the community - and most importantly for generations to come. My personal thanks to all those who turned out so positively to join the conversation yesterday.” 

The Carterton Area Strategy will build upon work done over recent years looking at how to regenerate the town. It has been expanded to consider how other local villages and towns such as Bampton, Shilton, Brize Norton and Alvescot among others, play a role in growing the area and improving it for future generations. 

The Council has committed to delivering the plan alongside its Local Plan which will set out how the whole district develops over the coming years to meet government housing targets. The area strategy will help define how the development around Carterton is delivered and will explore improving infrastructure, bringing in investment, improving the economy and regenerating the town centre. 

This first event marks the beginning of a wide-ranging engagement programme. There will be many more opportunities for local people to get involved, share ideas and help shape the outcomes of the plan. The Council wants the strategy to be driven by the community – creating not just a blueprint for physical growth, but a shared vision for how Carterton and the surrounding area can thrive for decades to come. 

More information will be published in the coming months, including a summary of the discussion and details of future engagement opportunities.