IT IS good, in principle, to see that a large housing development is being considered for Armstrong Road in Littlemore.

It is certainly preferable to make use of the brownfield sites in Oxford rather than the Green Belt.

According to the recently reported Campaign for the Protection of Rural England survey, 76 per cent of people want the Green Belt preserved from development.

This survey makes it a lot harder for any political party to support Green Belt and greenfield site development.

However, this site has more than a few problematic aspects which need dealing with before any development proceeds: First, we should all support point 62 in the planning documentation on this proposed development, in which our local wildlife trust objects to the proposals “on the grounds that there is insufficient mitigation against the loss of legally protected species and their habitats in line with The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; insufficient measures to ensure that biodiversity interests are maintained, enhanced and restored…” etcetera.

Secondly, confident expressions about flood management and sustainable drainage possibilities for this site tell us that these areas need significant investment and carefully managed implementation.

For example, will housing units have living accommodation located above surface level parking to help protect them from flood risk?

Third, the 20 per cent renewable energy target for the site is dismally unambitious and should be raised to 100 per cent.

But serious concerns about the bus service and local facilities being inadequate also need to be addressed. It is also worth considering whether the Armstrong Road site could actually accommodate a larger number of housing units as a result of having taller apartment blocks.

STEVE DAWE
County press officer, Oxfordshire Green Party
Bulan Road, Oxford