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CPRE Oxfordshire
CPRE Oxfordshire
Campaigning to protect Oxfordshire's countryside for 75 years
 
 
Green Belt  
 

Latest News

2010

January 28th: First major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife is published today by CPRE and Natural England.

Natural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have joined together today to publish Green Belts: a Greener Future. This is the first major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land, and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife. Together, Green Belts cover 13% of the land surface of England and 30 million people live in or next to a Green Belt.

New research, presented in this report, concludes that the Oxford Green Belt, established over fifty years ago, and covering 66,868 hectares, is a vital environmental asset. It is:

  • the best means of protecting the Oxfordshire countryside from urban sprawl;
  • a valuable resource in providing space for people to exercise and enjoy peace and quiet;
  • a large area of truly rural landscape on the edge of our historic city;
  • important for agriculture; and
  • of growing importance for wildlife.

However, Oxford’s Green Belt remains under constant threat from inappropriate development, including: the proposed urban extension into the Green Belt south of the City, for a mixed development of at least 4,000 houses; the proposed Northern Gateway scheme which could include two parcels of Green Belt land; and the proposed development of Green Belt land around Wheatley and Berinsfield in South Oxfordshire.

CPRE and Natural England have agreed a series of actions that we need to take to improve Oxford’s Green Belt, through:

  • continuing to uphold existing Government planning policy which restricts new development in the Green Belt;
  • focusing on better and more co-ordinated land management to help the Green Belt deliver vital environmental services – such as attractive landscapes, wildlife rich habitats, places for recreation, healthy soils, fresh water, woodland and improved air quality;
  • maintaining and improving the Green Belt as part of an ecological network between the city, the surrounding countryside, and nationally important landscapes; and
  • encouraging more public use of the Green Belt, while maintaining the Green Belt’s open, rural character (the Oxford Green Belt Way allows city residents to walk the Green Belt and get there and back by public transport).

In a press release, issued on 28 January, Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for CPRE Oxfordshire, said: “By protecting land from development, the Oxford Green Belt has protected the setting of the historic city of Oxford and prevented the uncontrolled urban sprawl witnessed in many other cities. This report shows that the Green Belt is much more than a planning designation. It is a vital environmental resource than can help with the production of locally grown food, support wildlife and provide breathing places for city dwellers and others.”

Helena Whall concluded: “The report confirms that the countryside around the city of Oxford is a vital, but fragile, environmental asset. It underpins what we at CPRE have been saying for decades – that we must continue to not only defend, but strengthen our Green Belt. We must continue to make full use of the opportunities it provides to allow people to enjoy their local countryside. We must not sacrifice the health of the city of Oxford and the surrounding environment by allowing plans to build homes in protected countryside.”

January 11th: Procedural Meeting on City's Core Strategy postponed.

The Procedural Meeting on the City’s Core Strategy scheduled for Monday 11th January has been postponed. According to the City, this was due to the current and expected adverse weather conditions, and due to the numbers expressing a wish to participate at the Meeting, and the range of views expressed, the Inspector was of the view that additional time is needed.

The meeting will now take place on Tuesday 9th February at 11.00 am in the Assembly Room, Oxford Town Hall.

  • See: Statements received and a copy of the Agenda on the City Council's Examination website here.

January 5th: CPRE responds to the Planning Inspectorate about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Oxford Core Strategy.

Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the SE Plan and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council responded to the Inspector's questions and Mr Pratt has now invited responses on the issues raised by the Council from all those who made representations at the Hearing, including the CPRE.

The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010.

If a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy.

CPRE has responded to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting.

December 1 2009: The Planning Inspectorate asks City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Core Strategy.

Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, has asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council has now responded to the Inspector's questions.

The City Council is firmly of the opinion that progress can be made with the Examination whilst the legal challenges relating the Strategic Development Area (otherwise known as the area south of Grenoble Road) are proceeding.

The City Council believes that the deletion of the SDA would have only limited implications for the Core Strategy, including the overall strategy, housing provision, housing:employment balance, and Northern Gateway proposal.

The Inpsector has invited brief written responses on these issues from all those who made representations at the Hearing (including the CPRE). The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010.

if a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy.

CPRE will be responding to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting in the New Year.

  • See: City Council's response to the Inspector here.

November 19th 2009: ‘Resounding Victory’ for Oxford’s Green Belt says CPRE.

Following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, CPRE Oxfordshire has now received confirmation that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be making major changes to the policies in the Plan removing all references to expansion into the Oxford Green Belt.

These amendments in the wording of key policies are contained in the draft consent order which DCLG has now sent to CPRE and other parties.

The key changes are:

  • complete deletion of all references to the Strategic Development Area (SDA) south of Oxford;
  • complete deletion of all references to the “selective review” of the Green Belt; and
  • deletion of references to a “wider review” of the Green Belt.

Alan Jones, Chairman of CPRE Oxfordshire, says:

“This is a resounding victory for CPRE and Green Belt campaigners. DCLG have conceded all the points that we challenged. With the urban extension south of Oxford (a mixed development containing at least 4,000 houses) now deleted, in responding to the draft order we will want to ensure that these are not just redistributed by DCLG to South Oxfordshire and that the City addresses its future housing needs within its own boundaries. We believe the revised wording will not provide any basis for speculative applications in the Green Belt.

These key changes in the policies of the South East Plan will have clear implications for expansionist policies in Oxford’s Core Strategy. When the Examination in Public is reconvened in the New Year, we will be making sure that issues such as the Northern Gateway are fully reconsidered by the Inspector.”

November 9th 2009: Gordon Garraway, CPRE Rights of Way Consultant, wins this year's Marsh Award.

Gordon Garraway being presented with the Marsh Award by CPRE's Chairman, Peter Waine, at the Sharing Success Conference in London on November 7th.

Gordon Garraway, CPRE Oxon's Rights of Way Consultant, has won this year's Marsh Award for the benefit of rural England, in association with CPRE, recognising and rewarding the work of volunteers.

Gordon was nominated by the Oxfordshire Branch of CPRE for his outstanding work on the Oxford Green Belt Way, the 50 mile circular recreational walk around Oxford's Green Belt, created to publicise the 75th Anniversary of Oxfordshire CPRE Branch and 50 years of the Oxford Green Belt.

October 28th 2009: Inspector's Report on City Core Strategy delayed due to uncertainty over SDA to the south of the city.

The Inspector's Report was due to be delivered to the City Council by the end of October. The Planning Inspectorate has, however, decided to put on hold the Inspector's Report in light of legal challenges being made to the South East Plan, and consequent uncertainty over the Strategic Development Area to the south of the city. 

Once the outcome of the legal challenges to the South East Plan is known, a further hearing session will be held to consider the way forward.

Due to the retirement of Inspector Fenton at the end of October, the Planning Inspectorate has appointed another Inspector, Mr Stephen Pratt BA (Hons) MRTPI, to conduct the remaining part of the examination.

Two letters from the Planning Inspectorate explaining the reasons for the delay and the appointment of Inspector Pratt can be viewed on the City Council website (see below).

Alan Jones, CPRE Oxfordshire Branch Chairman, said:

“We were delighted that our legal challenge to the South East Plan succeeded and the threat to the Green Belt has been averted – for now.  It is clear that the City should not be allowed to press on with its expansion plans in the Core Strategy and that the growth of the City needs a radical re-think.  We are very pleased to see that the Core Strategy has now been put on hold.”

September 29th 2009: CPRE Oxfordshire wins legal challenge to South East Plan.

The Oxfordshire Branch CPRE announced this morning that following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, the Secretary of State has conceded that insufficient consideration had been given to alternatives to the proposed urban extension in the Green Belt south of Grenoble Road

Although details have still to be hammered out with the Department for Communities and Local Government, this almost certainly means that the current proposal in the South East Plan to grab Green Belt land south of the City for a 4,000 house urban extension is dead.

Michael Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, said: "This is not only good news for the Green Belt but for Oxford too. It has always been CPRE’s case that reckless expansion is the wrong track for our unique and historic City to take, and the City Council are misguided to pursue it." (CPRE Press Release, 29 September).

BBC Radio Oxford reported that DCLG confirmed that it would not be contesting six legal challenges to the SE Plan, including the one made by CPRE, but would not comment further. They went on to say that the legal challenge affected only a small part of the SE Plan and that the rest of the plan was OK. (Bill Heine Show, 29 September)

Michael Crofton Briggs of the City Council told the Oxford Mail that it was "good news" for the City. "We are awaiting formal confirmation from the Government but it appears that this news means that we don't have to wait for the Government to take this matter to the High Court. We anticipate this further work, including further consultation and the final publication of the plan, will take just under six months." (Oxford Mail, 30 September).

CPRE is doubtful that further consultation and the final publication of the SE Plan could be done within six months.

September 2009: CPRE’s Legal Challenge to SE Plan likely to be heard in New Year.

CPRE Oxfordshire has now heard from the Government Solicitor that the Government will definately contest our legal challenge to the inclusion of an urban extension to Oxford in the Green Belt "South of Grenoble Road" in the Secretary of State's South East Plan published in May 2009.

CPRE understands that the Government will not be offering any new evidence to rebut our claim that Sustainability Assessments had not been carried out in a lawful way and that therefore the Secretary's decision is invalid.

Michael Tyce, Chairman of the CPRE Thame District, comments:

“It is strange that the Government is contesting the case at all, as not only have the Courts recently quashed part of the East of England plan relating to building on Green Belts on the same grounds as those on which we are basing our claim, but the Government has not appealed the decision.

The Court has now asked us if we wish to produce further evidence or rely on our original submissions, and to confirm various matters in relation to our claim. It looks unlikely that the Court hearing will take place until January/February at the earliest. This would leave little chance for the Government to appeal, should we win, before the last possible date for an election - and the Conservatives have intimated that, if elected, they would quash regional plans wholesale and let issues like this be decided locally, which would seem to us the democratic way to go about things.” 

August 28 2009: Cycling septuagenarian highlights threats to Oxford’s Green Belt

Intrepid cycling septuagenarian, Cambridge psychiatrist and Russian dissident, Dr Marina Voikhanskaya, is using pedal power to highlight areas where rural beauty is threatened by development. Marina, who’s 74, is cycling 430 miles from Cambridge to Land’s End in just 10 days.

A member of the CPRE, Marina’s ride is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Act of Parliament that gave National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty protected status.

As she pedals through North Oxfordshire, on Saturday 29th August, Marina will be highlighting the impact that the proposed ‘Northern Gateway’ development will have on Oxford’s Green Belt to the north of the City.

Marina will set out from The Plough pub in Wolvercote at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, and will be sent on her way by fellow CPRE members and supporters.

(From left to right) Christopher Gowers, CPRE Chairman for City District, Michael Daniell, Secretary for City District, with Marina Voikhanskaya, at Cow Hill, near the proposed 'Northern Gateway' site.

June 15 2009: CPRE Oxon takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat.

CPRE Oxon has decided to take legal action against the Government to contest the Government's decision to approve an urban extension south of the City in the Green Belt and on Tuesday 16th June, it served papers on the Secretary of State for the Environment.

South Oxfordshire District Council has also announced they are taking the Government to court on its Green Belt plans.

A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said in response: "The South East needs a long term strategy to strengthen the economy, address housing shortages and tackle the threat of climate change.

The Government remains committed to preserving the protections offered by the Green Belt, and we have no intention of fundamentally changing this policy. The amount of Green Belt land has increased since 1997.

This does not mean that the exact current Green Belt boundaries should be set in stone. The independent expert Panel for the SE Plan has recommended miniscule changes and this reflects the pressing housing need in these specific areas, and provides the opportunity to deliver 6,000 more homes combined. We are urging the local authorities to extend the Green Belt to replace this land." (Planning Portal, 18 June).

May 6 2009: South East Plan Shockingly Bad News for Oxfordshire says CPRE.

The Government published on 6 May its approved version of the South East Plan. This is a major decision for the Government which has taken a year longer than expected to respond to the consultation on proposed changes to the draft Plan.

While the Government has reduced slightly its targets for house building in the region (32,700 new homes each year until 2026 rather than 33,250) [3], housing totals in the Oxfordshire sub-region remain as the Secretary of State first proposed at 40,680, with 4,000 in the urban extension south of the City. This is still however nearly 7,000 (23%) more than the South East Regional Assembly (which was then promptly abolished) thought the sub-region could take.

Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said in a Press Release: “The Oxfordshire sub-region plan is no worse than the provisional statement, but that does not mean that it is not still shockingly bad news for Oxfordshire."

April 19 2009: “Objectionable”, “Unsustainable” and “Undemocratic” – says John Howell MP of the City’s plans to expand into Green Belt.

From left to right: Micheal Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network,John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, addressing the CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Photograph by Rick Munday.

About 100 people came along to the CPRE’s ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Amongst those in the audience were Ann Ducker, Leader of the SODC, John Cotton, SODC Cabinet Member, Anne Purse, District Councillor for Forest Hill, Janet Carr, Parish Council Chairman for Wheatley and District Councillor for Wheatley. Residents from the Leys and Berinsfield also attended.

Caroline Lucas MEP, who was unable to attend the rally, sent a strong message of support: “The benefits of green open spaces are increasingly appreciated from a range of perspectives, including for our well being and mental health as well as the environment. As you enjoy the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, please consider what this area would look like if the government forges ahead with meeting its unsustainable housing targets. I am sorry I cannot be with you to say ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ …By all working together I am confident that we can win this one and I shall certainly be doing my utmost in the European Parliament to help protect our valuable countryside from unnecessary development.”

It is expected that the South East Plan, due to be announced this month by the Housing Minister, Hazel Blears, will endorse the review of the Green Belt south of the City and would require an increase in the number of houses to be built in Oxfordshire by 2026.

CPRE will continue to challenge both the urban extension into the Green Belt and any further increase in housing imposition by the Government.

Wesley Smith leads CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath. From left to right, John Howell, MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, SODC Councillor, and Helena Whall, CPRE campaign manager. Photograph by Jo Cartmell.

March 27 2009: CPRE launches 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign.

On March 27, Oxfordshire’s Branch of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) in partnership with the Oxford Green Belt Network, launched a hard hitting “Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt” campaign to combat the current serious threats it faces.

A CPRE campaign map shows serious threats to the Green Belt ringing all round Oxford City, including the so-called ‘eco-town’ proposal at Weston Otmoor, threats at Marston, Shipton, and Kidlington, and the City Council’s plan for an urban extension onto South Oxfordshire’s Green Belt south of Grenoble Road.

CPRE also reports the alarming news that South Oxfordshire itself, which has up until now professed itself a strong supporter of the Green Belt when opposing Oxford’s urban extension, is now, in its just published Core Strategy, proposing two Green Belt violations of its own, at Berinsfield and, particularly damagingly, at Wheatley (see STOP PRESS).

Over the next few weeks, CPRE members and Oxfordshire’s Green Belt parishes will receive a ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign pack including a newsletter, car-stickers and leaflets.

On Sunday 19 April members of the public who are concerned about threats to their Green Belt are invited to join a campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath, along part of CPRE’s Oxfordshire Green Belt Way, led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith, followed by a rally at Horspath Village Hall with a panel of speakers including local M.P. John Howell, Ian Scargill, Chairman of the Oxford Green Belt Network, and Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons.

What you can do

If you would like to support CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign and would like to receive the campaign pack please call the CPRE Office on: 01865 874780 or email: administrator@cpreoxon.org.uk

If you would like to join us on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally see below for more information.

CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk & rally, Sunday, 19 April.

Come and join the CPRE on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally.

The walk will begin at Shotover Hill at 3.00 pm, and will be led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith (Regional TV presenter).

The walk will finish at 4.00 pm, at Horspath Village Hall, where there will be refreshments and a short rally outlining current threats to the Oxford Green Belt.

Addressing the rally will be John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, and Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network.

Contact: Helena Whall, CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager on tel: 01865 874780 or email: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk.

To obtain copies of the Oxford Green Belt Way guidebook go to: http://www.greenbeltway.org.uk

Latest News

2009

March 6 2009: SODC's draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for Berinsfield and Wheatley.

South Oxfordshire District Council is looking to consult on the next stage of their Core Strategy document ‘the Preferred Options’ in late March. The Core Strategy will play a major role in shaping the future of the district over the next 20 years. The strategy will identify where significant areas of housing and employment growth will take place in the district up until 2026.

CPRE notes with concern that despite the Council’s welcome and oft-repeated opposition to the urban extension of Oxford into the Green Belt, south of Grenoble Road, the draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for both Berinsfield and Wheatley.

Albeit on a smaller scale these proposed extensions into the Green Belt are just as much in conflict with the Green Belt and its purposes as the proposed extension south of Grenoble Road.

CPRE Oxon will be objecting to this Green Belt review when it responds to the consultation.

The draft Core Strategy is to be discussed by SODC Cabinet on 5th March. The official consultation by SODC will only begin after the document has been approved by the SODC Cabinet and amended where necessary, with a consultation period of 18th March to 1st May indicated as being probable.

What you can do

February 19 2009: CPRE expresses concern that an updated map of the 'northern gateway' site, released by Oxford City Council, has been enlarged to take in part of the Green Belt.

In a letter to the Oxford Times today (19 February), CPRE Oxfordshire expresses its concern that the city has enlarged the site for the so-called ‘Northern Gateway’ to Oxford at Pear Tree, by a third, increasing it to about 60 acres, taking in a stretch of Green Belt, lying south of the A40, and a piece of Green Belt to the north at Peartree Hill Farm.

We see no justification or rationale for the city to take any Green Belt land. Moreover, no such plan was suggested in the city’s consultations to which we responded.

January 12 2009: CPRE writes to Secretary of State requesting the suspension of the publication of the South East Plan in the light of the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee.

January 12 2009: CPRE writes to the Boundary Committee to register its objection to the request made by Oxford City for a boundary extension.

2008

December 3 2008: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on the Green Belt.

In a recent report, "Greener homes for the future? An environmental analysis of the Government's housebuilding plans", published on 3 November, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee calls on the Government to revise housebuilding targets in light of the economic downturn, or risk unleashing a swathe of greenfield development.

Responding to the report, Kate Gordon, CPRE’s senior planner, said:

"The Environmental Audit Committee’s excellent report hits the nail on the head. We wholeheartedly endorse its recommendations, and share the deep concerns of the Committee’s members.

The Government has a good record on building on brownfield land but the pressure for greenfield development will intensify in an economic downturn. Inflexible Government targets and planning rules are forcing local councils across the country to needlessly allocate greenfield land for housing. Without a policy change local authorities will have no choice but to grant permission for greenfield development."

The Environmental Audit Select Committee’s key recommendations:

  • The Government should urgently review the basis of its target for building 3 million new homes by 2020.
  • A clear sequential test favouring brownfield sites for development over greenfield sites should be reintroduced into planning policy.
  • Targets to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 should be used to speed up the development of community renewable energy sources for local neighbourhoods.
  • Government should look urgently at introducing feed-in tariffs as a way of making zero carbon homes more financially attractive to developers.
  • Eco-town proposals should be re-examined to ensure they have good public transport links, and are located close to commercial centres and employment opportunities, so that they do not lead to large rises in road journeys.
  • All major housing building developments from 2016 should have to meet the same environmental tests as eco-towns.
  • The Government should investigate the potential for the redevelopment of vacant building to create up to 1.2 million new homes.
  • Despite the current market downturn, the Government should ensure that minimum standards for public transport and green infrastructure apply to all new developments.
  • More aspects of the Code for Sustainable Homes – not just energy efficiency – should become mandatory for builders from 2010.
  • The Government should suspend the implementation of its regional spatial strategies until it has carried out and published an environmental appraisal of its house-building targets.

CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the Committee's report, in particular its acknowledgement that the Government's housing targets are putting pressures on the Green Belt and that the test of "exceptional circumstances" for building in the Green Belt should be set higher.

  • See House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee Report.
  • See CPRE National Office Press Release.

November 11 2008: Prime Minister's Office responds to HandsOff! Our Green Belt petition.

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to the petition submitted by John Howell, MP, South Oxon, to honour his pledge to protect Green Belt land, and to not allow proposals for 4,000 houses within the Green Belt in South Oxfordshire to be included in the South East Plan. 566 people signed the petition.

  • To view the Prime Minister's response click here.

October 21 2008: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land.

At a meeting of the Executive Board on Wednesday 22 October the City Council plans to set up a joint venture to develop land South of Grenoble Road with Magdalen College and Thames Water to ensure that the massive ill-gotten gains that would result from this plan – should it ever be permitted – will be equally shared amongst the plotters.

They are also proposing to spend £30,000 of taxpayers money on a consultant’s report into the way this Green Belt despoliation might be structured.

At the same time the City Council are trying to grab the land in question – and hundreds of acres more besides – off South Oxfordshire District Council in order annex it to the City and thereby become the planning authority deciding the development.

Quite apart from CPRE's objections to the unnecessary grabbing of Green Belt land – the City has long ago admitted that more than all of the houses needed to solve the City’s claimed housing problem could be built on land already within the City boundaries – how can it be proper for the City to be deliberately setting up a development consortium which would involve potential huge financial gain to the City itself as well as at the same trying to become the Planning Authority deciding whether this lucrative plan can go ahead.

This would set up an enormous conflict of interest and destroy any possibility of fairness in the planning decision.
The City must drop one plan or the other. If it wants to form a developers consortium it must not try to grab planning control of the land; if it wants to be the planning authority it must put its land in trust and not be part of the developers cartel seeking to profit from planning permission.

To be both the beneficiary of planning permission as well as the authority that grants it, as it is trying to be, makes total nonsense of the democratic process and a mockery of the checks and balances in the planning system.
Quite apart from that it is surely wrong for the City to be deciding to blow another £30,000 of its long-suffering taxpayers money  on a development which is not necessary; is not in the South East plan; has not been agreed by the Secretary of State; and is fiercely contested not only by South Oxfordshire District Council and the Parishes whose land would be grabbed if it went ahead, but by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and all who cherish the environmental and economic benefits the Green Belt provides and which an expansionist City wishes to destroy.

Bob Price, Council Leader wrote to the Oxford Times on October 3rd that the City Council “are happy with large parts of the Green Belt”  which only confirms that they and their developer associates mean to profit by building over all the rest of it if given half a chance.

October 7 2008: SODC kept in the dark about boundary review.

The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has today voiced concern at being kept in the dark over a review that could lead to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxford City Council. This could ultimately mean that responsibility for Green Belt land currently in South Oxfordshire would move to the City. Ann Ducker says: 'We first heard of this review from Oxford City Council, which out of courtesy told us it had accepted an invitation from the Boundary Commission to review its southern boundary.' 

'I’m staggered that the commission only asked Oxford City Council and didn’t seek our views given the impact a review could have on our communities.  The city has made no secret of the fact it supports development of Green Belt land in South Oxfordshire, which from the outset we have been opposed to and moving our boundary is a sneaky way of making it easier for this to happen.  Any boundary change would also mean that affected residents would be subject to higher Council Tax and different arrangements for services such as waste collection.
 
'I’ve asked the commission to explain their actions and to ensure that we are fully involved in any future boundary discussions.  In the mean time I want to reassure residents that we will continue to fight development in the Green Belt and keep them informed as more information emerges.'

September 26 2008: South Oxfordshire District Council says no to boundary review.

The leader of the South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has told Oxford City Council that she will not agree to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire and Oxford City. In a press release issued on 29 September, she said: 'I'm pleased to confirm that the boundary commission has told us that it isn't looking to review this boundary and that it doesn't expect to start any reviews during 2009.'

September 19 2008: Oxford City Council is looking to annex enough Green Belt land to build at least 12,000 homes as part of a proposed urban extension.

Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in approximately 530 hectares of Oxford’s Green Belt, stretching from Sandford-on-Thames in the west to Northfield Farm in the east, currently lying within the South Oxfordshire District. CPRE Oxfordshire believes the city wants to take control of this land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to build up to 12,000 on Oxford's Green Belt.

September 8 2008: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension.

Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in the land south of Grenoble Road, near Greater Leys. The area currently lies within the South Oxfordshire District. The city wants to take control of the parcel of land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to speed up the housing proposals.

August 25 2008: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to SODC consultation on South of Oxford Urban Extension.

Following the announcement by the Secretary of State on July 17th in the Proposed Changes to the South East Plan, that there will be a review of the Oxford Green Belt, to allow for the building of 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road, SODC were asked to demonstrate how it can accommodate the proposal in its planning documents if it becomes a requirement. As a key stakeholder, CPRE Oxfordshire were asked for its views on the issues and options raised by the proposal should it go ahead.

In its response to the consultation on the South of Oxford urban extension, CPRE Oxfordshire made it very clear that we don’t believe that any incursion into the Green Belt is warranted, and that there is no credible evidence to justify it.

7 May 2008: CPRE Oxforshire News Release 'Oxford Green Belt - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?

Nationally, there has been significant loss of Green Belt land since 1997 and more is planned, despite the commitment of the Prime Minister to robustly protect it. Over 1,100 hectares of Green Belt have been lost each year since 1997 and at least 45,240 homes – equivalent to a city the size of Bath - have been built on Green Belt land since 1997. A Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) investigation of the Government’s record on Green Belt policy since 1997 lists those threats to the Green Belt in Oxfordshire.

May 2008: SODC "Hands off our Green belt" campaign.

At the end of March, SODC initiated an on-line petition for people to register how important the Green Belt is to us.

At the end of the petition time (August 2008) Downing Street will send all signatories a message giving the government's reason's for either doing something or not taking any notice of what the public wants. The main thing is to have 1000s of people signing up. So please take a few minutes to sign up and encourage friends living in or near the Oxford Green Belt to do the same.

The address of the on-line petition is: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SOxonGreenBelt

April 2008: Proposed eco-town, Weston-Otmoor, of upto 15,000 new homes.

Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green near Bicester for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt.

March 2008:Proposed extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a 'Transport Hub'.

To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’. Informal consultation with stakeholders ended on 20 March. The planning application is expected in 2009.

CPRE Oxfordshire submitted a statement opposing the extension as part of the consultation process.

March 2008: Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines in the Green Belt.

Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City.

2007

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Oxford's Green Belt

Oxfordshire's Green Belt is proving too tempting for developers to ignore but it is too precious for us to squander.

The first green belt was proposed in 1935 to curb ribbon development along London's arterial roads. The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act gave local authorities powers to direct development and, in 1955, they were invited to establish their own green belts. In 1956, Oxford councillors had the foresight to suggest they designate the fields surrounding their city as green belt, following a campaign by CPRE and the Oxford Preservation Trust. Designation seems to have been complete by 1958. (For an introduction to Green Belts, see BBC News.)

Green Belts now protect 13% of England. As designated open space surrounding many towns and cities, they play a critical role in creating a high quality of life for people in both town and country. They protect the open character of the countryside next to urban areas and stop sprawl, thereby encouraging urban regeneration. They are a place where we can get a bit of exercise, explore the countryside next door and enjoy some peace and quiet. They are where we grow food, ride horses, and walk and talk in relative peace.

But the reality is that Green Belts face multiple threats, nowhere more so than in Oxfordshire where the proposals (below) currently threaten the rural character of our county.

Threats to Oxfordshire's Green Belt Shipton-on-Cherwell Bebroke and Oxford Airport Kennington Sunningwell A34 Corridor Horspath & Garsington Grenoble Road

Kennington. A 30 acre site south of Sandford Lane in the Green Belt for 440 houses. The developers say it could be one of a necklace of smaller sites around the City, most of which would lie in the Green Belt.
Sunningwell. Developers West Waddy ADP (acting on behalf of the local landowner Mr Ted Wilcox) propose up to 6,000 houses, a park and ride scheme and a waste incineration plant to be built wholly within the Green Belt, adjacent to the villages of Sunningwell and Bayworth.
Land south of Grenoble Road. A 1,000 house mixed development was included in the initial Structure Plan draft. Oxford City Council has since suggested 5,000 houses. Magdalen College and Thames Water have promoted 3,000 houses and an extension to the Science Park. At the recent Examination in Public into the South East Plan, David Lock, a planner representing Magdalen College and Thames Water suggested that 4,000 to 8,000 dwellings was the minimum size for a sustainable urban extension, such as that his clients desired south of Grenoble Road.
Shipton-on-Cherwell. A planning application by Kilbride Properties Ltd for development of the former limestone quarry (for a mixture of uses including industrial and commercial) was approved on 14 January by the County Planning Committee. This will have serious wildlife and traffic implications.
Bebroke. Oxford University and Merton College are keen to develop land they own in Begbroke between Sandy Lane and Begbroke Lane, all of which is in the Green Belt.
Oxford Airport. Up to 160,000 flights a year are planned as the airport shifts from training to commercial flights.
A34 Corridor. Oxford City Council has proposed a Strategic Development Area along the A34 corridor stretching from the City south towards Abingdon and Didcot. This would be adjacent to the City and on the Green Belt. A major hub has been suggested at Lodge Hill.
Horspath & Garsington. Oxford City Council, BMW and Brasenose College are pressing for housing and industrial development in the Green Belt.

! Thornhill Park & Ride. To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’.

! Weston-Otmoor. Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt.

! Wind Farms. Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City.

CPRE on the Green Belt

CPRE South East told the inquiry into the South East Plan that:

The current world scale success of London is at least in part because of the existence of the Metropolitan Green Belt… [which] has also protected market towns around London, which have maintained their character, and some have become significant economic hubs themselves and rivers of the economy in the South East… The academic, research and economic vibrancy of Oxford is proof that the established fact of the Oxford Green Belt has not limited this success… There is no case for a strategic review of the Green Belts within the [South East] region. Full statement.

Further information

 
 
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All content Copyright © 2005-09 Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire unless stated.
Published by CPRE Oxfordshire, Punches Barn, Waterperry Road, Holton, Oxfordshire OX33 1PP. 01865 874780.
campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk. www.cpreoxon.org.uk.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging
the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. National website: www.cpre.org.uk.