Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor: overwhelmed by planning applications
29th October 2012
Spare a thought for Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor which has been overwhelmed with planning applications to build more than 300 new homes. Villagers say they simply don’t have the infrastructure to cope with such a huge increase in population.
This rash of planning applications is because developers are arguing that the Vale of the White Horse District Council cannot prove they have an adequate five-year housing supply, leaving developers more or less free to apply anywhere without the usual restrictions. Combine this with the failed Interim Housing Supply Policy and the Vale’s lack of a Local Plan, and inevitably developers are trying to get in quickly. Neil Evans, Chair of KBS Action, says: “These applications are being picked off one by one without an overall view of the effect on the village and the increase in traffic on the busy and dangerous A415.”
Check out their short film on YouTube which highlights the villagers’ concerns and keep up-to-date with the latest information on their village website. We will be monitoring the situation closely and offering support to the villagers where we can.