Our Response to the West Oxfordshire Local Plan Consultation and Concerns Over Gaps
26th August 2025
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 Resources page of our website. See below for our key comments.
Clearer, Stronger Wording
While we support the Spatial Strategies and Principles for Development, we are concerned that the Plan’s wording is often too vague to ensure its aims are delivered. Phrases such as “prioritised” and “desirable” lack the force required to achieve results. We are calling for stronger, unambiguous wording — using terms such as must, require, include or exclude — to make sure policies are enforceable. We would also like to see explicit reference to “best practice,” recognising that new technologies and approaches will shape how policies are implemented in future.
Housing Pressures Linked to Oxford’s Unmet Need
One of our major concerns is the ongoing uncertainty around Oxford City’s unmet housing need. While we strongly welcome the approach of a Preferred Spatial Options consultation, until there is clarity on the number of homes West Oxfordshire will be expected to provide, it is not possible for us to constructively comment on their impact in relation to matters which we care about, such as the impact on the countryside. We urge WODC to continue to strive to seek resolution on this matter before further steps are taken.
Missing Policies: Second Homes, Short-Term Lets and Housing Stock
We are deeply concerned about the absence of policies to address second homes and holiday lets. In the Cotswolds, the growth of these properties is driving up prices, hollowing out communities, and making it harder for local people to find homes. We want to see West Oxfordshire’s policies aligned with those in Gloucestershire so protections do not simply stop at the district border.
We also believe the Plan should do more to make the best use of existing housing stock. This could include greater flexibility to allow the creation of annexes, subdivision of larger homes, and the conversion of underused retail units in town centres into much-needed homes.
Defining ‘Affordable Housing’
Another key omission is the lack of a clear definition of affordable housing. We believe affordability must be tied to local incomes — with mortgages no more than four times a two-person household’s annual income, and affordable rents set at no more than 35% of average local income. In December 2024, we carried out research into what “affordable” really means in Oxfordshire, and we have shared a summary of this work with the council to support the development of a more locally appropriate definition.
Overall, we want to work constructively with West Oxfordshire District Council, but the current draft needs strengthening. Clearer wording, stronger protections for communities, and a realistic approach to affordability are all essential if this Plan is to deliver on its ambitions.