Threat to Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan?

IN the latest of Thame.Net’s ‘Take on Thame’ opinion features, Bob Austin, of the East Thame Residents Association, writes about the possible threat posed by increased housing numbers proposed by South Oxfordshire District Council, on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan: (Reminder: The views expressed in the following are not neccesarily those of Thame.Net)

Image courtesy of newerapolitics.org

“The Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) is facing a further threat, this time from increased housing numbers demanded from the new SODC Local Plan 2031. It is vital that as many people as possible make their opinions clear to SODC.

Last Year SODC produced a document entitled ‘Issues & Scope’ that set out options for locations for additional housing provision. Now it has produced another document called ’Refined Options’ containing interim proposals to locate an additional 3600 homes for SODC needs as well as some 3000 homes for overspill from Oxford City.

It would be fair to say that the launch of the ‘Refined Options’ has been so low key as to be almost invisible and inaudible.

How does this affect Thame? SODC are recommending concentrating the bulk of this extra housing in the Market Towns and Large Villages as well as the Science Vale (around Culham & Berinsfield). In practice it means that Thame will be hit hard unless we defend it vigorously and ask for a fairer distribution. SODC are going for the ‘low hanging fruit’ again instead of a more balanced approach.

In the SODC Local Plan 2027 (the basis for our Neighbourhood Plan) the Market Towns contributed 79% of new requirements but only had 44 % of the then existing housing stock. Smaller villages, with 26% of the existing housing stock, were not required to contribute anything at all. In other words the demands on the Market Towns were disproportionate to all other categories. Thame itself was required to supply 775 houses compared to Wallingford’s 555 and Henley’s 400 despite all three towns being of comparable size.

The imbalance of this allocation will again be repeated, or made worse, if the principles of the ‘Refined Options’ are applied. This will be compounded by a failure to take account of ‘windfall’ development in Thame (windfall is piecemeal development within the town that is not included in the Local Plan). Since 2011 Thame has had approximately 300 ‘windfall’ homes built or approved. They must not be ignored.

We do not know how many additional houses Thame might be required to take but if the same proportion is maintained as in the 2027 Local Plan it will be another 350; it could be better or much worse.

It is vital that as many people as possible express their view. You can do this by going to the SODC website: www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan. If you need further information please contact your local residents’ association.

Make your voice heard and defend Thame! SODC are influenced by the volume of responses but time is short. The consultation closes on April 2.”

Bob Austin
East Thame Residents Association