Oxfordshire councils have said that no extra new houses will be built on greenfield sites for the next 15 years.

The decision came as new plans that raise standards for housing and other developments were brought a step closer following council meetings this week.

Members at Vale of White Horse District and South Oxfordshire District councils gave the go-ahead for the districts' draft Joint Local Plan to be published for comment for a six-week period.

This will commence on Tuesday, October 1 and will then be submitted for independent examination by a Planning Inspector.

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South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council offices (Pic: Damian Halliwell).South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council offices (Pic: Damian Halliwell). (Image: Damian Halliwell)

The draft plan aims to meet local community future need for housing, jobs and infrastructure, and will replace the districts’ current adopted plans.

The councils have identified that there are enough new homes in the pipeline already, with no need to build on any extra new greenfield sites over the next 15 years.

Only one area of expansion has been earmarked, which is on the brownfield land owned by the Ministry of Defence at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon.

The plan also sets out new firmer environmental policies so that development is net zero carbon and delivers twice the national level of biodiversity net gain to help with the recovery of nature.

There are new policies and maps identifying parts of the districts which are valued landscapes or have dark skies or are especially prized for their tranquillity.

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To help more people who need an affordable home, the proportion of affordable housing on large sites will also go up from 35 per cent to 40 per cent in Vale of White Horse and from 40 per cent to 50 per cent in south Oxfordshire, without increasing the total number of homes being built.

Bethia Thomas, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I’m proud at how far we have come. This is a new and groundbreaking plan for the future.

"This plan has been the product of joint working and shows the benefits of a collaborative effort between our two districts.”

District councillor Andy Foulsham added: “I’m delighted and excited by our Joint Local Plan. The plan is the biggest influence on the future of our district. I’d also like to thank all those involved in getting us to this stage.”

Councillor Anne-Marie Simpson said: “This is an ambitious and innovative plan with robust policies that will help us to tackle the climate emergency and deliver sustainable infrastructure and the right homes where and when our communities need them.

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“As many of my colleagues said at our council meeting (on September 19), this is a game-changing plan and we’re leading the way for other councils.”

Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council David Rouane added: “We’re very proud of this plan, not least because it will help us protect and restore nature with ambitious biodiversity net gain requirements – but it’s not just aspiration, we’ve done the hard yards of gathering the evidence that this is achievable and viable.”

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