Your Local Plan

What is a Local Plan?

In England, decisions about land use and development are guided by Local Plans. These plans set out what can be built and where. When someone applies for planning permission, the Local Plan is the main reference point — unless there are very strong reasons to decide differently.

There are four key stages to the development of a Local Plan:

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1) Evidence Gathering and Early Consultation (Regulation 18)

The council collects data and evidence on key issues such as housing, jobs, shops, the environment and landscape. Reports and studies are prepared on matters such as housing, employment, retail, environment and landscape etc. to support draft policies.

At this stage, the public is asked for their views:

• What are the needs of the area?
• Which sites should be developed?
• Which places should be protected?

Usually, there are two consultations: one about the main “Issues”, and one about “Specific Sites”. A Sustainability Appraisal must also be carried out to test whether the plan is environmentally and socially sound.

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2) Pre-Submission Publication Stage (Regulation 19)

The council publishes its draft Local Plan, shaped by earlier consultation and the Sustainability Appraisal.

This draft is open for six weeks of formal public consultation before being submitted to the Government. The local planning authority can make further changes at this stage, and if those changes are significant, it may hold another round of consultation.

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3) Submission of Document and Independent Examination (Regulation 22)

The final draft is sent to the Government. An independent Inspector holds an Examination to test whether the plan is “sound” and meets legal requirements.

The Examination hears evidence from anybody who wishes to make a submission on any of the key issues or questions highlighted by the Inspector. CPRE Oxfordshire often attends these hearings.

The Inspector considers all of the evidence and representations made at each stage of the Local Plan consultation process.  The Inspector can recommend adoption where he/she considers that the document satisfies legal requirements and can be considered ‘sound’.

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4) Inspector’s Report and Adoption (Regulation 24)

Local plans and spatial development strategies are examined to assess whether they have been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements, and whether they are sound.

If the plan is judged to meet all legal and planning requirements, the council can then formally adopt it.

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What’s Happening in Oxfordshire at the moment?

In Oxfordshire four Local Plans are currently under development:

Cherwell Local Plan 2040

This Plan is currently at Stage 3. It has been submitted to the Inspector and we have been advised that they have been appointed and we await further details here.

Find out more about our views and how we responded at the Stage 2 Reg 19 here

Joint South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2041

This Plan is currently at Stage 4, Inspectors hearings have been undertaken where CPRE attended. We await the Inspectors report.

Find out more about our views and our response at the Stage 2 Reg 19 here

Oxford City Local Plan 2042

The previous version of this Plan was rejected by the Inspector in July 2024. CPRE, along with many others, including neighbouring district councils, objected to this Plan due to high housing numbers which we considered to be overinflated. The Inspector found the Plan to have failed in its duty to cooperate and asked Oxford City Council to revisit it  using a “standard” methodology to assess housing needs.

As a result, this Plan is now at Stage 1. CPRE are calling for more consultation at this stage before it progresses to Stage 2, a Reg 19 consultation. Find out more and our views here.

West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041

This Plan is also at Stage 1, with a further reg 18 consultation giving Site specific details expected in November 2025. Find out more and our views here.