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Decision details

West Oxfordshire District Council response to the Regulation 19 pre-submission draft Cherwell Local Plan

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

The purpose of the item was to agree the District Council’s response to the proposed submission draft Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042.

 

Councillor Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, introduced the item. Councillor Ashton noted that the report presented to the Executive Members provided an overview of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042. The report also sought agreement on West Oxfordshire District Council’s response to the Plan Review. Councillor Ashton stated that, if the response was approved, it would be submitted to Cherwell Council as part of the consultation process. Councillor Ashton noted that responses must be relevant to its impact on West Oxfordshire. Councillor Ashton stated that such impact on West Oxfordshire in the main would be due to planned development on land to the south-east of Woodstock. It was noted that West Oxfordshire Council Officers did not feel that there was any material change to the original Cherwell Local Plan with regard to this area to which the Council originally objected. Therefore, it was noted that the Council’s response would be maintained from the earlier submission that the housing on the land south-east of Woodstock proposed was not suitable. Councillor Ashton drew the attention of the Executive to Annex A which summarised the concerns of Officers.

 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Julian Cooper, a Ward Member for Woodstock and Bladon, was invited to comment. Councillor Cooper expressed concerns around proposed development of the site. Councillor Cooper stated that both Woodstock and Bladon would be adversely impacted. Councillor Cooper noted that there was no reference in the documentation to a section of the land proposed for development being Common Land. Councillor Cooper also noted that he felt that there was a strong case for the land to be considered part of the buffer zone for the World Heritage Site. Finally, Councillor Cooper noted that Cherwell Council should consider other more suitable sites.

 

Councillor Andy Graham thanked Councillor Cooper for his comments. It was noted that decisions around the points raised were a matter for Cherwell Council. Councillor Graham noted that the report was a balanced and focused response.

 

The Executive’s response to the Cherwell Local Plan was proposed by Councillor Hugo Ashton. Councillor Andy Graham seconded the proposal, which was put to the vote and agreed by the Executive

 

RESOLVED:

That the Executive:

  1. Noted the content of the report;
  2. Approved the draft response attached at Annex A;
  3. Delegated responsibility to the Head of Planning Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning, to make any minor changes to the Council’s draft response before it is formally submitted.

Report author: Chris Hargraves

Publication date: 13/02/2025

Date of decision: 12/02/2025

Decided at meeting: 12/02/2025 - Executive

Effective from: 21/02/2025

Accompanying Documents:

 

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