Council to consider ambitious draft Local Plan to deliver the homes, jobs and infrastructure West Oxfordshire needs

The draft plan sets out a positive vision for the future of West Oxfordshire, providing a framework for delivering quality new homes, supporting local jobs, securing investment in vital infrastructure and responding to the climate and ecological emergency, while protecting the landscapes, environment and local character that make the district such a special place to live and work. 

Under national planning policy, West Oxfordshire is required by government to plan for around 18,000 new homes up to 2043. The draft Local Plan sets out how this government mandated growth can be accommodated in a planned and coordinated way, giving the Council greater control over where development takes place, pushing to make sure infrastructure is delivered and co-ordinating how communities grow over the coming decades. 

A key ambition of the plan is to ensure local people can access the right homes in the right places. Alongside a strong emphasis on affordable and social rented housing, the plan supports a broad mix of quality homes, including housing for older people, community-led housing, and custom and self-build homes, helping ensure people can continue to live in West Oxfordshire at every stage of life.  

The plan also takes a stronger approach to infrastructure delivery, helping ensure growth is supported by the roads, schools, healthcare facilities, public transport, sewage treatment and community services needed to support thriving communities. Larger housing developments will be required to demonstrate how they will be supported by the right infrastructure, helping to ensure growth is planned and can be delivered, rather than the piecemeal approach seen over recent decades. It also aims to improve transport connectivity along the A40 corridor, safeguarding land for a future mass rapid transit scheme.   

Supporting a strong and resilient local economy, the plan identifies land for employment and business growth, supports investment in town centres and rural businesses, and creates opportunities for future jobs, including in green industries and low-carbon innovation. The plan proposes almost 30 hectares of new employment land, supporting thousands of additional jobs. This is particularly important in a rural district, helping residents access employment opportunities closer to home and reducing the need for long-distance commuting.  

Responding to the climate and ecological emergency is a key focus of the plan, including policies designed to support the Council's net zero ambitions through higher energy efficiency standards for new development, helping to reduce carbon emissions while creating homes that are cheaper to run. The plan also includes measures to support nature recovery and protect valued landscapes, including the Cotswolds National Landscape. 

Cllr Liz Leffman, Executive Member for Planning and Infrastructure, said: 

"This is an ambitious and forward-looking plan for the future of West Oxfordshire, shaped by the views of local people and focused on creating communities that can truly thrive for generations to come. 

"It is about delivering the quality homes local people need; ensuring growth is supported by the roads, transport connections, schools, healthcare and everyday services that people need; and creating places where people have access to jobs and opportunities close to where they live. 

"It also reflects our commitment to tackling climate change, supporting nature recovery and ensuring new homes are built to higher standards, helping to reduce emissions and lower household energy bills." 

Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: 

"Planning for the future means making difficult decisions, but it also means taking responsibility for shaping what comes next. This plan gives us the strongest possible framework for managing growth, protecting what makes West Oxfordshire special and ensuring development happens in a planned and coordinated way. 

"We've gone above and beyond our statutory responsibilities throughout the preparation of this plan, working closely with local communities, neighbouring councils, infrastructure providers and statutory consultees. That collaboration has been essential in helping us build a Local Plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of our district, while also being robust, deliverable and capable of standing up to independent examination. 

"I am immensely proud of the plan we have produced with and for our communities. It is ambitious, evidence-based and built to last, providing a strong foundation for West Oxfordshire's future for many years to come." 

The draft Local Plan is due to be considered by the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee before being considered by the Executive. Subject to approval, it will then be published for formal public consultation later this summer.