Posts by Nemone Caldwell

CPRE Oxfordshire has submitted further responses to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the ongoing examination into the proposed Botley West Solar Farm. Our concerns centre on two key issues: the lack of transparency in soil data provided by Blenheim Estate, and the threat to Oxfordshire’s most productive farmland. Missing Soil Data Blenheim Estate has…

Thames Water has revealed that costs for the controversial proposed Abingdon Reservoir have soared from £2.2 billion to between £5.5 billion and £7.5 billion, a tripling of the original figure. This startling increase will fall largely on bill-payers across the region. Thames Water attributes the sharp rise to new geological and hydrological investigations, which revealed…

CPRE Oxfordshire has responded to West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041 consultation and while we welcome many of the intentions set out in the draft, we believe important changes are needed if the Plan is to protect our countryside and communities effectively. You can see our full response on the 2025 Consultation Responses section of the…

CPRE Oxfordshire has responded to Oxford City Council’s Local Plan 2042 consultation, warning that the draft plan requires significant revision before progressing to the next stage. Our submission highlights serious concerns over the treatment of green spaces, housing numbers, and the consultation process itself, which is summarised below. You can see our full response on…

A development-led power shift could risk Oxfordshire’s countryside, climate goals, and community voice. CPRE Oxfordshire is raising serious concerns over the “Greater Oxford” unitary authority proposal, which would swallow up large parts of the Oxford Green Belt — a landscape specifically protected to prevent urban sprawl and preserve the city’s unique character. The proposal, put…

This week the High Court dismissed our challenge of the government’s decision not to hold a public inquiry into the controversial Abingdon Reservoir, part of Thame’s Water’s Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP), despite concerns about lack of transparency, ecological risk, misleading forecasts and financial recklessness. The decision follows a 2-day Judicial Review brought by SAFERWaterS…

The government has asked for proposals nationally for unitary authorities across the country. In Oxfordshire there will be 3 proposals for the Government to review and make a final decision on. The options are: This is Oxfordshire County Council’s preferred option and details can be found on their website here. This is South Oxfordshire, Vale…

Two Local Plan consultations, for Oxford City and West Oxfordshire, are now “Live” and CPRE Oxfordshire have a busy summer ahead, making sure we contribute actively to ensure ongoing policy which supports a thriving countryside. Oxford City Having had its previous plan rejected by the Inspectors last year, Oxford City Council has issued a new…

On 25-26 June the High Court will hear a Judicial Review case, brought by CPRE Oxfordshire and campaign group SAFERWaters, against Thames Water’s plans for a £2.6 billion mega-reservoir. We believe that the reservoir, which would be the second-largest in England and cover an area the size of Gatwick Airport, is completely un-necessary, will devastate…