North Witney SDA: Fears 1,400 homes puts town in 'grave danger'

Land north of Witney has been earmarked for housing and new roads in West Oxfordshire District Council's 15,950-home local plan, but people in the town and nearby villages have raised concerns.

Fears surrounding the North Witney Strategic Development Area (SDA) include a greater flood risk, increased traffic, reduced air quality and the 'destruction' of the landscape.

The land is within the area of Hailey village's neighbourhood plan, which residents will vote on tomorrow - the same day as a new town councillor is elected in Witney's north ward.

Independent district councillor Richard Langridge was removed from the ruling Conservative group's cabinet in 2016 and called North Witney the 'worst planning proposal' he has seen.

He said: "It has devastating consequences for flood risk, huge traffic congestion and the destruction of a wonderful piece of natural environment.

"If it ever goes ahead, it will scar Witney and the surrounding villages forever, and put residents in grave danger of disastrous flooding.

"The massive costs of the infrastructure needed, including the West End Link road, makes it essentially undeliverable and puts the entire local plan into serious doubt, as it is such a key part of that plan.

He added: "If the Shores Green junctions [on the A40] are finally built, then we will have no need for the West End Link Road, with all of it’s inherent dangers and risks."

About 1,100 homes would be built between Hailey Road and New Yatt Road, with 100 west of Hailey Road and 200 houses between New Yatt Road and Woodstock Road, where outline planning permission has already been requested.

North Witney was allocated 1,000 homes in an earlier draft of the council's local plan, while the 2012 Kirkham Landscape Study estimated the site's capacity was 750 to 800.

This document is cited by the North Witney Action Group (NWAG), comprised of residents opposing the plans.

NWAG contests the local plan's view that the link road, costed at £23m in 2015, could serve the 'dual' role of easing traffic and reducing flood risk.

The route connects the junction of Hailey Road and West End with Mill Street, via the River Windrush, while a northern distributor road would link Woodstock Road and Hailey Road.

Among other issues, NWAG says the link road will significantly increase traffic on Hailey Road, Farmers Close and West End, raising fears the latter could become an Air Quality Management Area, like Bridge Street.

The group adds the plans leave Witney 'little or not better off' from flooding issues that have blighted the north of the town, particularly in 2007.

Stuart Harrison, of NWAG, said: “Nowhere in the plan does it properly cost this or address the existing flooding which devastated the centre of the town in recent years.

“With climate change, no one in their right mind would not expect this to happen again, so to add 1,400 houses into this flow of water is in itself a threat to the very existence of the heart of Witney.

“To not say how this is going to be dealt with and at what cost and who is going to pay is beyond irresponsible.”

NWAG is backed by hundreds of residents like Peter Burton, who lives in Vanner Road, next to the SDA.

He said: “If you build 1,400 homes that's 3,000 cars, so there must be significant infrastructure. Those rickety old roads can’t take it.”

New Yatt Road resident Kevin Green agreed, adding: “The link road is already more than needed. Infrastructure should come first because it’s been lacking for many years.”

Viner Close resident Margaret Thompson raised landscape fears, saying: “It’s going to cover a lot of land. We need green space, otherwise Witney will hit Hailey and just get bigger."

North Witney would have to conform with the Hailey Neighbourhood Plan if it is passed, as expected.

Hailey Parish Council chair, Graham Knaggs, said: “Our greatest fear is the West End Link Road will never be built because developers will wriggle out of it.”

The local plan says North Witney, 'while not eliminating congestion’ in the town centre, will ‘have a number of tangible benefits' alongside other highway measures.

It adds flood risk can be mitigated through 'sustainable drainage and potential offsite enhancements' and says the development will have an 'acceptable degree of impact’ on the landscape.

The government planning inspector's report from last August says North Witney ‘has the potential’ to increase traffic nearby, but its 'significant contribution…outweighs the harm’.

Residents will be consulted on an issues paper setting out a 'masterplan' for North Witney this autumn, with construction predicted to start after 2021.

Jeff Haine, the district council's cabinet member for planning, said: “An independent inspector appointed by the Secretary of State considered the representations made to the local plan, including the objections to development at North Witney. The principle of development is therefore established."