A town council has voted for the development of a plan which will call on residents to have their say on the town's future developments. 

Bicester Town Council voted for a motion to support the development of a Local Neighbourhood Plan for Bicester on Monday, October 14. 

The plan calls for a town wide citizen engagement on how Bicester should develop.

Local Neighbourhood Plans have incredible statutory powers, whereby, once passed, has to be respected by authorities and developers, meaning Bicester residents would have the opportunity to determine how the town should be developed.

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The plan invites Bicester residents to determine policies and plans around travel, development standards, infrastructure, how the town centre should be developed and things such as community facilities.

The council says the process is bottom up, not top down, with citizens of Bicester creating their own planning group, and for wide engagement to occur.

This is because the plan has to be approved by referendum whereby Bicester residents will vote on whether they agree to the proposals.

Once voted on there is an approval process through central government and Cherwell District Council, with both under obligation to support locally determined plans for this nature.

It is expected the process will take 18 months to two years.

The plan was proposed by Green councillor for Bicester East, Tom Beckett  who said: "This process opens enormous opportunities for the citizens of Bicester to now determine how they want their town to develop.

"For years Bicester has had developments imposed upon it with only consultations to welcome input.

"For the first time we can say what we want, how it should be developed and to what standard.

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"I am so pleased to kick off this process and really welcome all citizens of Bicester to be involved." 

Lib Dem councillor for Bicester North, Rachel Mallows, said: "Many residents including myself have complained that Bicester has grown without due consideration of infrastructure including traffic, air pollution and facilities to support residents.

"A Local Neighbourhood Plan created by the people of Bicester for the people of Bicester will guide development that is beneficial for the town and people."