18/04/11….Inspector has ‘initial soundness concerns’ about Core Strategy
THE Planning Inspector appointed to conduct an examination into the proposed Core Strategy for development of South Oxfordshire up to 2027, has voiced concerns about its soundness.
The Inspector, Mr Roy Foster, has therefore arranged to hold an Exploratory Meeting/Pre-Hearing Meeting on May 17, with South Oxfordshire District Council, to discuss his concerns, before the first session of the examination, due on July 12.
Mr Foster’s concerns about the soundness of the proposed Core Stategy put forward by SODC (and challenged by Thame Town Council and others)include:
* questioning SODC’s assertion that the South East Plan (SEP) has been revoked and that the Core Strategy has been based on assumptions about the Localism Bill
* his wish for clarification as to why the proposed housing numbers for Didcot need to be taken out of the numbers put forward by the SEP
* the point that consideration needs to be given to the possibility that in the future, if, as some believe likely, the City of Oxford outgrows its capacity for growth within its boundaries and therefore requires an amount of related development to take place in its neighbouring authorities
* clarification about which forecast figures have influenced figures for future growth
* clarification about the definition of ‘windfall sites’ and their inclusion or not in proposals for the first ten years of the CS
* clarification about matters around the ‘proportional growth’ allocation to the three towns of the ‘non’ Didcot homes
* questions around the timing of new Building regulations to do with Zero Carbon building, that have yet to be defined nationally
With particular reference to Thame, the Inspector asks:
“Chapter 11 (of the Core Strategy) : Thame ? (A) Does the CS make justified and effective proposals for the town which appropriately serve its own particular needs and opportunities in terms of housing, employment, retailing, transport and other infrastructure? (B) Is the identified strategic site ?justified? (ie founded on a robust and credible evidence base and the most appropriate when considered against the reasonable alternatives), and it is deliverable within the expected timetable? (C) If Chapter 11 is unsound, what appropriate changes would make it so and, if such changes were introduced, what would be the implications in terms of consultation and Sustainability Appraisal?
LINK HERE to read the whole of the Inspector’s initial soundness concerns/questions, to be discussed at the pre-meeting hearing.
Go to http://www.southoxon.gov.uk:80/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/planning-policy/core-strategy/core-strategy-examination for more information about the meeting and the hearing, and to see all relevant documentation.
