Latest News - 27 September 2024
The Local Plan Inspectors have written a letter to the council recommending that we withdraw the Local Plan 2040. This conclusion is explained in their letter, with the primary reason being that they consider there was a failure in the duty to cooperate. This duty requires us to engage with interested parties, including surrounding local authorities and the county council.
The Inspectors concluded that surrounding districts should have been more involved in the technical study into our housing need (the Housing and Economic Needs Assessment, or HENA).
The inspectors also said the Council has not proved exceptional circumstances to justify its HENA assessment and should instead rely on the National Planning Policy Framework’s (NPPF) ‘standard method’ for assessing housing need.
Oxford City Council continue to be committed to planning for the true housing need in Oxford, whilst delivering a more inclusive economy and protecting the environment.
We are obviously disappointed by the conclusions of the letter and the Council will now carefully consider its next steps.
- Download the Inspectors’ letter (PDF 182kB)
- Download our letter in response to the Inspectors’ letter (PDF 361kB)
See a summary of our response addressing the key points raised in the Inspectors' letter.
See a press release and more information for the media about our response to the Inspectors' letter.
The draft Oxford Local Plan 2040 was submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing on 28 March 2024, which marks the beginning of a public examination process.
Initial Hearings took place between 11 and 13 June 2024 at the Rose Hill Community Centre, Carole’s Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, OX4 4HF. The hearings were live-streamed, and are available through the Council’s YouTube channel.
The Inspectors
Planning Inspectors Kevin Ward BA(Hons) MRTPI and Martha Savage BSc(Hons) MCD MRTPI have been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the submitted Oxford Local Plan 2040.
The Inspectors' task will be to consider the soundness and legal compliance of the submitted Plan, based on the National Planning Policy Framework December 2021 (published in 2021) (under transitional arrangements in the National Planning Policy Framework 2023) and associated regulations. Guidance Notes have been prepared by the Inspector to help people understand the process.
Procedural Guidance for Local Plans has also been produced by the Planning Inspectorate, together with a short guide aimed at those participating in a local plan examination for the first time.
Programme Officer
Ian Kemp has been appointed as Programme Officer for the Local Plan Examination. He is an Independent Officer working on behalf of the Inspector to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. His role is to act as the point contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspector, Local Planning Authorities and Representors. Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspector should be submitted to him in the first instance via the contact details below.
Address: PO Box 241, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 1DW
Email: ian@localplanservices.co.uk
Telephone: 07723009166
Examination Timeline and Key Dates
- 5 September 2024 - EXAM 10-19: Responses to Initial Hearings Action Points Published
- 23 August 2024 - EXAM 7-9: Published relating to Green Belt
- 18 June 2024 - EXAM 6: Initial Hearings Action Point List published.
- 13 June 2024 - EXAM 3: Suite of Documents and EXAM 4 document published, Initial Hearings closed.
- 11 June 2024 - Initial Hearings Commence.
- 10 June 2024 - Examination Document 1 and 2 published.
- 4 June 2024 - Agendas for Initial Hearings published.
- 3 June 2024 - Written Statements for Initial Hearings published.
- 28 May 2024 - Updated Programme for Initial Hearings published
- 24 May 2024 - Written Statement Deadline for Initial Matters.
- 17 May 2024 - Requests to participate in Initial Hearings to be submitted to Programme Officer.
- 13 May 2024 - CSD.009: Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications in the Examination Library has been updated to correct typographical errors in respect to Policy SPE1.
- 29 April 2024 - Guidance Notes, Hearing Programme and Matters, Issues and Questions published
- 8 April 2024 - Planning Inspectors Kevin Ward BA(Hons) MRTPI and Martha Savage BSc(Hons) MCD MRTPI have been appointed to hold an independent examination of the Local Plan
- 28 March 2024 - Oxford Local Plan 2040 submitted for Examination
Examination Library
Alongside the Submission Draft of the Local Plan other documents have been submitted that make up the evidence base and supporting documentation for the Plan. Visit our Oxford Local Plan 2040 Examination Library for details.
Written Statements
The following Written Statements have been received in response to the Inspectors’ Initial Matters, Issues and Questions:
Matter 1 – Procedural and Legal Requirements
Matter 2 – The duty to Co-operate
Matter 3 – Housing Need and Requirement
Examination Documents
Documents added to the library since the submission of the Plan for Examination can be accessed via the link below:
019 EXAM - Examination Documents submitted to Inspector after Submission
