COUNCILS across Oxfordshire have been unable to agree on a key document setting out where and how many houses will be built in the county.
The Oxfordshire Plan 2050 was to be used by leading councils, to produce further Local Plans, detailing how housing and infrastructure will be delivered in the next 30 years.
However, in a joint statement from the leaders of the county’s district councils – Oxford City, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire – it has been announced that the 2050 Plan work programme will end.
READ AGAIN: Date set for adoption of plan detailing level of housing growth in county
The statement reads: “The five local planning authorities in Oxfordshire have been working together on a joint plan for Oxfordshire to 2050.
“It is with regret that we were unable to reach agreement on the approach to planning for future housing needs within the framework of the Oxfordshire Plan.
“Local Plans for the city and districts will now provide the framework for the long-term planning of Oxfordshire.
“The Oxfordshire Plan 2050 work programme will end and we will now transition to a process focused on Local Plans.
“The issues of housing needs will now be taken addressed through individual Local Plans for each of the city and districts.
“The councils will cooperate with each other and with other key bodies as they prepare their Local Plans.”
In addition to housing, the 2050 Plan also sets out how to mitigate flood risk and tackle climate change.
The Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP) – formerly the Oxfordshire Growth Board – is responsible for supporting delivery of the Plan.
In June, a spokesperson for FOP told this newspaper that the Plan was set to be adopted by December 2024, following discussions with a Government department.
However, Need Not Greed Oxon (NNGO) – a coalition of 40 groups across Oxfordshire – hit out at a perceived lack of progress on the Plan, since the last consultation on it closed in October.
The FOP spokesperson said in June: “We have for some time been in discussion with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about the timetable for the plan as we wish to ensure that there is sufficient time for evidence gathering, and public and political engagement.
“We have recently agreed with DLUHC that we can amend the timescale, with the goal of adopting the plan by December 2024.
“In light of this agreement with DLUHC, we are now reviewing the work programme and will communicate the revised schedule and timelines when that review is complete.”
Read more from this author
This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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