CONFUSION surrounds the future of Oxford’s Green Belt after the Government accepted its planning blueprint setting out where homes should be built was legally flawed.
The South East Plan proposes an extension of Oxford on land south of Grenoble Road in Blackbird Leys, where the city council wants to build 4,000 new homes.
But the scheme and plans for a selective review of the Green Belt have been thrown into doubt after the Government said it was not going to contest legal challenges to the proposals.
One of the successful challenges was mounted by Oxford University, which claims it has been “unfairly treated and misrepresented by the decision-making process”.
It is arguing that any review of the Green Belt “should be done properly, not piecemeal”.
Other legal challenges focused on the Government’s failure to look at alternative sites, such as land owned by the university near Yarnton and Begbroke.
The Government’s decision not to go to court will avoid prolonged legal proceedings centred on the legality of the South East Plan, which has been years in the making.
But there is uncertainty about whether the move clears the way for a full scale review of the city’s Green Belt, instead of a limited review focused on the southern edge of the city.
Campaigners for and against building houses south of Grenoble Road have both tried to claim a victory as a result of the decision.
Michael Crofton Briggs, head of development at the city council, said: “This outcome means the Government can formally consider the alternatives for the urban extension to the city.
“The city council is confident that the best option will remain south of Grenoble Road.”
But Michael Tyce, spokesman for the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “This is not only good news for the Green Belt but for Oxford too.
“It has always been our case that reckless expansion was the wrong track for our unique and historic city to take, and the city council are misguided to pursue it.
“We are confident common sense will now prevail, and all thought of Oxford being allowed to sprawl over the Green Belt will be abandoned.”
news@oxfordmail.co.uk
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