Time to move forward with Local Plan

These were the words of Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council after a Council meeting on 5 March 2020.

At the meeting, councillors discussed the Direction by Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to progress the council’s Local Plan through the examination process and to adopt the plan by December this year.

The council hadn’t been allowed to formally discuss its Local Plan for nearly five months after a temporary direction was placed on the council in October last year.

In the Council meeting, councillors noted the Direction that had been given to them by the Secretary of State and acknowledged the decision to allow them to progress the submitted Local Plan 2034, rather than asking others to do so.

The Council will ask the Head of Planning to prepare a timetable and provide adequate staff resources in order to meet the requirements of the Direction.

Councillors now urge the Secretary of State to finalise the funding package for the Didcot Garden Town Housing Infrastructure Fund bid as soon as possible and to ensure that it includes appropriate sustainable walking and cycling infrastructure. 

Council asked the Chief Executive, Mark Stone, to ensure that sufficient budget provision and staff resource is made available to fully explore all opportunities to address the council’s concerns and aspirations, particularly in relation to the delivery of regeneration and housing delivery to meet local needs, enhanced environmental policies and the council’s declared climate emergency.

Councillor Leigh Rawlins, Cabinet Member for Planning said, “I am fully committed to working with partners, councillors and officers to deliver on our residents’ aspirations as we move forward.”