Will more new homes be ‘dumped’ on Thame?

THAME residents’ representatives are very worried that additional new housing could be foisted on Thame, following the publication of new Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) figures.

Dusk over Thame town hall – By Frank Millar

The concerns came to light at a meeting between Thame Town Council and Residents Assoication leaders, to review how delivery of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan was progressing. Part of that report included SHMA housing numbers, recently published for Oxfordshire, indicating that land for an additional 6,750 new homes in South Oxfordshire will be needed between now and 2031, over and above those already planned for to 2026.

It is not clear how many of these additional new homes will be allocated to Thame. That will depend on how SODC decides to distribute them across the four main towns, Didcot, Wallingford, Henley and Thame, or, as Jake Collinge suggested at the meeting: “They come up with something novel, like new towns!”

Thame Town Council has asked the Minister, Nick Boles whether ‘windfall sites’, that is those not planned for but which come forward for planning permission during the period eg ‘in-fill’ on private land, may be counted in Thame’s allocation. But he has so far not responded.

Nick Shott, representing the Chiltern Vale Residents Association, said: “This could mean an additional 2000 homes for Thame, which could turn the neighbour planning process into a joke! We took a long time and a lot of effort devising the Neighbourhood Plan and selling it to the people of Thame and I don’t know what people are now going to think.

“It seems to me this is something that favours Developers and not the local people.”

Charles Boundy, from the Priest End Residents Association was concerned about the effect on roads, parking and the general quality of life on the town and feared that South Oxfordshire District Council would “dump the houses where they liked.”

Bob Austin, who represents the Towersey Road Residents Association, said: “We all know that we need more housing but it’s got to be manageable. Roundhead Drive for instance has become a permanent car park. We must make sure our voices are heard.”

Cllr Mike Dyer said that he thought there was “no need to panic” and that it was too early to judge what the impact the need for additional houses would have on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, citing the fact that through the TNP, Thame has sites allocated for development, which have the force of law behind them, whereas the other towns do not.

Cllr Helena Fickling said: “Everyone needs to keep nagging Oxfordshire County Council. They are the people that control much of the infrastructure that we require.”

The Clerk, Helen Stewart said: “All we can do is make strong representation to Government and fight for ‘windfalls’ to be included in our allocation. I can assure you that Thame Town Council will continue to fight to restrict the number of developments in Thame.”

The Mayor, Peter Lambert, assured everyone at the meeting: “We are all batting for Thame!”

Ed. MORE from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Monitoriing & Delivery Report 2013-2014, tomorrow.