“Greater Oxford” Proposal Threatens the Green Belt and Ignores the Bigger Picture

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 forward by Oxford City Council, is one of three options currently under review for reshaping local government across Oxfordshire. While we support reform that promotes strategic, county-wide planning, CPRE believes the “Greater Oxford” option is flawed and dangerously tilted toward unchecked development.

The Green Belt: More Than Just a Planning Tool

The Oxford Green Belt was established to protect the openness around the city, safeguard the historic setting and views of the iconic spires, and prevent surrounding parishes from being consumed by sprawl. But its value reaches far beyond planning boundaries.

The Green Belt:

• Helps tackle climate change by supporting biodiversity, reducing flood risk, and cooling urban areas
• Contributes to local food security — around 65% of Green Belt land nationally is agricultural
• Provides everyday access to nature for over 165,000 Oxford residents, boosting mental and physical wellbeing

A recent 2024 CPRE Oxfordshire survey found that 80% of local people want to keep the Green Belt open and free from development — a message echoed in national polling.

A Development-Led Proposal, Not a Public-First Plan

The proposed Greater Oxford boundaries appear to be drawn not by service needs or infrastructure considerations, but by development targets. Areas such as Berinsfield, Culham, and Kidlington — already earmarked for housing — have conveniently been included within the proposed boundary.

This isn’t strategic land use, it’s opportunistic expansion. And it risks shifting Oxford’s unmet housing needs onto neighbouring countryside — the very spaces meant to shield the city from overdevelopment and urban sprawl.

We Need a Smarter, Fairer Way Forward

We recognise Oxford City faces real housing challenges. But this proposal is not the solution. We need a joined-up strategy to meet housing need in a way that is climate-conscious, community-led, and infrastructure-ready.

The alternative options — a single Oxfordshire-wide unitary authority or two balanced authorities, encompassing Oxfordshire and West Berkshire — would:

• Spread development more evenly across the county
• Align growth with transport, infrastructure, and service planning
• Reduce pressure on the Green Belt and rural areas

Local Democracy Must Not Be Lost

While CPRE Oxfordshire supports efficient governance and cost savings, any reform must preserve local democracy. A single, large council risks disconnecting communities from decisions that affect their everyday lives. Public engagement must be strengthened — not sidelined — in any new structure.

We call for more, not less, community involvement:

• Early consultation to avoid conflict and foster collaboration
• Rural representation to ensure small communities aren’t forgotten
• Transparent decision-making that values local input and reflects Oxfordshire’s diversity

Reform Done Right

As discussions around council reform continue, CPRE Oxfordshire urges decision-makers to pursue a bold but balanced approach — one that prioritises:

✅ Affordable housing on brownfield sites
✅ Protection of rural landscapes and the Green Belt
✅ Climate-resilient development in the right places
✅ Efficient land use supported by the right infrastructure
✅ Stronger, not weaker, community voice

We will work constructively with whichever governance model is ultimately chosen — but we cannot support a plan that prioritises sprawl over sustainability, and power over people.