Oxfordshire’s countryside, towns and villages are at the heart of its environmental, economic and social well-being. The county’s rural character is the fundamental starting point from which decisions about the future development of the county should be made.
Our guiding principles, and means of realising our Vision, are that:
- The amount of development, and its timescale, should be based on natural growth and migration;
- Brownfield land should be developed first. Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) should be developed as a last resort under proven exceptional circumstances;
- Genuinely affordable housing should be made available, in perpetuity, to address local need;
- High densities of development should become standard, to avoid losing more land than necessary;
- Any new communities must be sustainable and existing rural communities need investment to support services and infrastructure;
- Job creation should reflect Oxfordshire’s existing skill base while addressing areas of need to reduce unsustainable commuting.
“Oxfordshire can be the lungs of the region to the north of the Home Counties. It can be a breathing space between the cities of London, Birmingham and Milton Keynes that still values and embraces wildlife, nature, countryside and the symbiotic relationship between beautiful small towns of character and vibrant rural communities, comprised of villages with a still-beating heart and farms that both give to, as well as take from, nature. It can also stand as a testament to the achievements of intelligent and sensitive planning by moderating building development through extensive use of brownfield sites and giving priority to the value of the wildlife and nature.”
- My Vision, CPRE Oxfordshire member
