South Oxfordshire Local Plan consultation – Have your say

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council will shortly launch a public consultation on its draft plan to meet future needs for housing and employment in the district.

Its new Local Plan will explain where, and why, it considers new houses and employment should be located up until the year 2033. The draft plan will also explain how the district council will raise money to provide infrastructure for things like roads, schools, leisure centres, parks and shops.

The draft plan is expected to include SODC’s preferred option for additional employment land in Thame, new convenience food retail space in Thame of up to 1,500m2, and an additional 600 new homes. The draft plan is also expected to support the proposal for the Cattle Market site, identified in the Thame neighbourhood Plan for a mixed-use redevelopment to include retail and other town centres uses. This allocation specifically excludes a foodstore. It will also propose that a review of the Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan should consider whether a small-format foodstore would be appropriate in this location to meet the need for additional convenience floorspace in the town.

You can read the draft Local Plan on SODC’s website from Wednesday, March 29, at www.southoxon.gov.uk/localplan. You’ll also be able to find out more information about the plan, including details on how to provide your feedback. Paper copies of the plan will be available at libraries across the district as well as at SODC’s office during usual opening hours.

The Local Plan will be available for you to comment on for seven weeks until May 17m 2017. The standard consultation period has been extended by one week to allow for the Easter holiday.

SODC will also be holding a series of drop-in events for the public to go to and view the plans for themselves and to ask any questions they may have about the plan. These drop-in events will be held at:

 Didcot – Cornerstone, 1pm – 7pm on Wednesday, April 5, 2017
 Wallingford – Regal Centre, 3pm – 7pm on Friday, April 7, 2017
 Thame – Barns Centre, 10am – 4pm on Saturday, April 8, 2017
 Henley – The Christ Church Centre, 10am – 4pm on Saturday, April 22, 2017

For more information, email SODC’s Planning department via policy@southoxon.gov.uk or call 01235 422600.