CPRE Oxford City District responds to Barton Area Action Plan

June 2011

CPRE Oxford City District has submitted its response to the Barton Area Action Plan.

Oxford Core Strategy adopted

18th March 2011

At a meeting on 14th March, the Core Strategy for Oxford was finally adopted, despite opposition from Lib Dem Councillors who said it was not ambitious enough in its housing targets.

The Core Strategy sets out the size and shape of the City’s development until 2026 and contains plans for 8,000 new homes and the Northern Gateway business park near Pear Tree, north Oxford.

CPRE Oxfordshire, which fought against a proposal in the draft Core Strategy to build 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road, will be campaigning against the inclusion of two parcels of Green Belt land at the proposed site of the Northern Gateway business park when the Area Action Plan is consulted upon.

CPRE says City must protect Green Belt and other green spaces when allocating sites for future development

23rd December 2010

CPRE Oxfordshire has submitted its response to the Oxford City Council’s Sites and Housing Development Plan Document (DPD) Consultation.

The Sites and Housing DPD will form part of Oxford’s Local Development Framework (LDF). It will allocate sites for development for housing, employment and other uses as well as setting out detailed planning policies that planning applications for housing development will be judged against. Once the Sites and Housing DPD is adopted, all the site allocations, and policies dealing specifically with housing in the adopted Oxford Local Plan will be replaced.

The DPD earmarks 100 potential sites of development across the City.

The Oxford City Committee of the CPRE welcomed the opportunity to comment on future housing policies and future site selection. We recognise the pressing need for new housing in the city and did not object to the figure of 8,000 dwellings set out in the draft Core Strategy to be provided by 2026.

However, we have consistently argued that in aiming for this level of housing provision and making Oxford a decent place to live and work over the plan period, the City should:

pay regard to important environmental policies such as protection of the Green Belt and other green spaces which provide important breathing spaces for its residents;

focus on delivering a modest amount of growth well, with the right physical and social infrastructure; and

ensure that the regeneration of existing areas of Oxford is adequately resourced – a major challenge in the current financial climate.

The City Council is now considering all comments and views received, which will help to inform the Options document being prepared for consultation in 2011.

The consultation deadline was 24 December 2010.

See: CPRE Oxfordshire’s response to the Sites and Housing DPD Consultation (PDF)

CPRE tells inspector it would prefer a modified, sound Core Strategy to proceed rather than have a policy vacuum in Oxford

3rd December 2010

CPRE Oxfordshire has written to the Inspector setting out CPRE Oxon views on this issue. In his letter, Alan Jones wrote:

“As you will be aware from CPRE’s concluding views at the EIP, we would on balance prefer a suitably modified, sound CS to proceed rather than have a complete policy vacuum in Oxford – which might well encourage damaging speculative developments as the economy improves.

If there are ways of bringing this important process to a speedy conclusion and putting a sensible, sound and robust core strategy in place, then they would certainly have our support.”

See: CPRE Oxfordshire's letter (PDF)

CPRE invited to comment on status of the Regional Spatial Strategy and its implications for the Oxford Core Strategy

11th November 2010

Following the completion of the resumed hearing session on the City’s Core Strategy in September 2010, the inspectors are currently finalising the report on the soundness of the Oxford Core Strategy.

One of the issues subject to discussion at the resumed hearings was the implications of the Secretary of State's decision on 6 July 2010 to revoke the Regional Strategies (including the South-East Plan RSS) and to return decision making on planning and housing to local councils. That decision was subject to a legal challenge (Cala Homes case: 2010 EWHC 2866), which was decided on 10 November 2010. The outcome was to quash the decision, and the Secretary of State has decided not to appeal this judgement. The effect of this judgement is to quash the decision to revoke the Regional Strategies, and as a consequence the South-East Plan RSS as it stood on 5 July 2010 forms an ongoing part of the development plan. However, the Government's intention to abolish regional strategies (as announced on 27 May 2010) will be given statutory effect in due course as part of the Localism Bill, and this intention is a material consideration in planning decisions.

The Council and all representors, including CPRE Oxfordshire, have since been asked for their views on the latest situation in terms of the status of the regional strategy and the policy implications for the Core Strategy. The inspector invites the written views of the Council and representors on this matter, by Friday 3 December 2010 at the latest.

The lawyers behind Cala Homes’ successful legal challenge to the revocation of regional strategies have launched new legal proceedings after the government insisted that the ruling changes little.

See: Oxford City Council Core Strategy (external website)

CPRE participates in EiP Hearings into Oxford Core Strategy

23rd September 2010

CPRE Oxfordshire, along with many other individuals and groups, including Oxford Green Belt Network, Engage Oxford, and Oxford Preservation Trust, participated in the Hearings. Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon also addressed the Hearings.

Much of the discussion centred around Oxford's 'Jobs-Housing Balance', the Northern Gateway, and the Green Belt.

The discussion around the Northern Gateway - the proposed business park at the Pear Tree roundabout, covered the important area of traffic and pollution. Peter Headicar, Reader in Transport Planning of Oxford Brookes University, and who had been commissioned by Oxford City Council to write a study on the traffic problems of the Core Strategy, explained how Oxford traffic levels are forecast to rise by 55% over the next 15 years and that the Northern Gateway will add to the problem. The Council chose not to accept the study.

Peter Headicar said that there would be approximately 30,000 traffic miles and 1,000 car trips each day as a consequence of the Northern Gateway development. His view was that this meant that the location of the Northern Gateway contravenes planning guidelines. Both Oxfordshire County Council Highways Authority and the Highways Agency backed his views and both resolutely oppose the Northern Gateway.

In its closing statement, CPRE's Chairman, Alan Jones said to the Inspector: "In terms of the soundness of the Core Strategy, we have consistently felt that the City did not take enough time out to review, revise and clarify the CS at various stages over this whole process. Some might argue that the City has been too pre-occupied with pushing through the original political aspirations.

We have considered the issue of soundness very carefully. Looking at the soundness criteria, we consider that there are still vital parts of the CS that are not sound – as we have indicated in our evidence. We must leave it to your judgment to determine whether the plan overall can be “repaired” – and equally whether the plan can command the public’s support."

To assist participants in the Examination, City Council officers prepared a ‘Combined Changes Document’ to show all proposed changes to the Core Strategy since it was originally submitted in November 2008.

The Planning Inspector has indicated that his Report will be ready some time during December 2010. The Inspectorate will release it to the City Council for a ‘fact check’ and two weeks later the Planning Inspectorate will produce the final report which will then be published.

See: CPRE Oxfordshire's closing statement (PDF)

See: Oxford City Council website for more information (external website)

EiP Hearings into Oxford Core Strategy to resume on 14 September

26th August 2010

Following the revocation of the South East Plan (or RSS), the City Council was asked by Inspector Pratt to respond to a number of issues by 20 August. The City Council has now submitted its response and it has also prepared a Housing Background Paper, in response to the Inspector’s letter of 24 July. Other examination participants have also responded to the Inspector, including CPRE Oxfordshire.

The Inspector has now confirmed that the hearings are to be resumed on 14 September. The Inspector's agenda is to follow.

See: Oxford City Council website for more information (external website)

See: CPRE Oxfordshire's response (PDF)

Oxford Core Strategy Examination - Resumption of Hearings

13th July 2010

Following the announcement by the Secretary of State on 6 July 2010, confirming that Regional Strategies had formally been revoked and no longer form part of the statutory development plan, Inspector Pratt has said that the examination of the soundness of the Oxford Core Strategy can be continued.

However, before the hearing sessions resume, he is asking for further information from the City Council and other interested parties, on the implications of the revocation of the South East Plan/Regional Strategy. The Inspector lists seven matters on which he would like the City Councils views.

The City Council and others interested parties must submit their responses to the Programme Officer no later than 20 August 2010.

The Hearings are due to resume on 14 September.

See: the Inspector's letter to the City Council (12 July) (PDF)

Oxford Core Strategy EIP: resumption of hearing sessions postponed by Inspector

14th June 2010

The Inspector has now written to the City Council to confirm that he is postponing any resumption of the Examination in Public hearings in the light of the recent letter from the Secretary of State Eric Pickles to Council leaders proposing to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) and return decision-making powers on housing and planning (including housing supply and the provision of travellers sites) to local councils without the framework of regional numbers and plans. The Minister of State has also announced changes to housing policy relating to previously developed land (private residential gardens) and housing density.

It is not clear whether and how the Oxford EIP might resume. This represents a fundamental change to the to local councils without the framework of regional numbers and plans. The Minister of State has also announced changes to housing policy relating to previously developed land (private residential gardens) and housing density. context of the Oxford Core Strategy and - given all the other issues which have affected this EIP - may mean a major re-think. Many, including CPRE, consider the existing Core Strategy document and the entire process to be flawed and lacking credibility.

The Inspector says: “Consequently, at present, I consider that it would be difficult to proceed with the resumed hearing sessions until further clarity is available on the status of the RSS, and the means by which it will be abolished, and how decisions on housing and planning will be returned the local planning authorities without a framework of regional numbers and plans.

I understand that a formal Ministerial statement on this matter will be released shortly. I therefore intend to defer a decision about whether and when to resume the hearings until the nature, scope and approach of any revised housing and planning policy framework is clear, after the Ministerial Statement has been made.”

See: the Inspector's letter (PDF) (PDF LINK REQUIRED)

CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies and more say for local communities – but urges action to avoid policy vacuum

28th May 2010

The Government proposal to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies had been expected and CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the move to reform planning and give back greater control to local communities. But we need a clear, effective system to replace “top down” targets and deliver genuinely sustainable solutions, with protection for the countryside, the Green Belt, important landscapes and habitats. It is a golden opportunity to deliver sensible, sustainable planning and reduce the complexities which bedevil the current system.

With the Districts in the midst of their Core Strategies, the last thing Oxfordshire needs is a period of uncertainty and policy vacuum as this will only encourage speculative planning applications. We would urge the Government to expedite new arrangements after full consultations, and provide effective national guidance which does not ride roughshod over local concerns.

With SE Plan targets removed, we would urge the five Districts to reconsider their housing plans to 2026 and formulate Core Strategies which are more sustainable and more in tune with local views.

Finally, this should not be a green light for the City to renew their ambitions to expand into the Green Belt. The Central Oxfordshire sub-regional strategy aims to maintain the city as a vibrant centre, while creating more jobs and investment in towns such as Bicester and Didcot to relieve the pressures. We call on the five Districts and County Council to now work together responsibly to give new life to the Central Oxfordshire concept.

See: CPRE Oxfordshire Press Release (28 May) (PDF) (PDF LINK REQUIRED)

See: Oxford Times (27 May) (external website)

See: Oxford Mail (27 May) (external website)

For more information on the Devolution and Localism Bill see DCLG website (external website)

For the full list of Bills see DCLG website (external website)

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