The Oxford Growth Commission's interim report was published today (15 December 2025).
Oxford City Council welcomes the interim report from the Oxford Growth Commission, which sets out a clear vision for how Oxford and its surrounding areas can grow sustainably and in a way that benefits everyone, including tackling the affordable housing crisis by delivering new homes at scale and helping the area to realise its economic potential.
The report also calls for Oxfordshire authorities to work collectively to deliver the government‘s new increased target for house building, which the City Council supports and is central to its draft Local Plan, due for final consultation in early 2026.
The importance of focusing growth in and around Oxford
The interim report highlights the benefits of focusing growth in and around Oxford. This would ensure the economic, social, and environmental advantages of clustering businesses, communities, and new homes together and close to existing infrastructure are maximised. The City Council also welcomes and fully supports the report’s push for Green Belt release to achieve this.
This approach should enable Oxford’s housing demand to be met locally, meaning homes for the city would not need to be built in more rural areas, further from transport infrastructure and amenities.
The report also makes the case that this focus on growth in and around the city would encourage more inward investment and accelerated innovation within the sectors Oxford is already world-leading in - such as life sciences, AI and clean energy. Building close to the city, rather than dispersing development more widely, would also reduce pressure on rural areas, cut commuting distances, and support a greener future.
The Commission identifies areas for further development within Oxford and just outside the current city boundaries, alongside the ongoing improvements to Oxford Station and surrounding public realm. The growth areas include Oxford West End, Oxford East, the Cowley Branch Line, Oxford Parkway Station and Kidlington.
The interim report also highlights the need for strong, coordinated delivery mechanisms and governance to accelerate housing and infrastructure projects.
Oxford City Council strongly supports the Oxford Growth Commission’s interim findings and agrees that a bold approach is essential to achieve the scale of ambition it sets out.
Ensuring growth benefits everyone
Oxford City Council has long championed policies that ensure growth benefits all local people.
Its Community Employment and Procurement Plan policy, for example, requires major developments to create training and job opportunities for residents, helping to make economic growth inclusive.
The Council also continues to work with partners on skills strategies and infrastructure delivery to support innovation and employment for residents across all sectors.
The report also makes it clear that the only way to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis is to deliver new homes at scale - at a minimum, the government’s new housing targets across the county - something the City Council has long called for and worked towards.
Three unitary councils – the best way to achieve growth
Last month, the City Council published its proposals for three unitary councils across Oxfordshire as part of the government’s Local Government Reorganisation. It proposes an Oxford on expanded boundaries, alongside new unitary councils to the north and the south of the city. This was submitted to government at the same time as alternative plans for both a single unitary and two unitary councils to cover Oxfordshire.
With its focus on local identity, increasing prosperity and delivering beyond the government’s housing targets via green belt release, the three unitary councils proposal is the only option that demonstrably and positively plans for growth in a way which aligns with the Oxford Growth Commission’s report.
Next steps
The Oxford Growth Commission will continue its work supporting the acceleration of housing development across Oxfordshire, developing spatial frameworks for key opportunity areas, and working with Homes England to prioritise investment.
Oxford City Council will continue to play an active role in these discussions to ensure growth is delivered in a way that supports local communities, protects the character of the city and reduces the strain on more rural areas.
Comment
“Oxford has the ideas, skills and ambition to lead the way in sustainable growth, and the Oxford Growth Commission’s report is a positive step towards making that happen.
“The vision and approach it sets out are very much aligned with our own thinking, including our three council proposal. The report acts as a timely challenge to the status quo across Oxfordshire, with its call to increase housing delivery and the need to release more green belt around Oxford to support that and help the city realise its economic potential.
“I look forward to working constructively with the County Council and our neighbouring district councils to hopefully shift the dial on both these issues.
“I welcome the Commission’s work and look forward to working with partners to turn these plans into reality. Together, we can deliver growth that protects what makes Oxford special while opening up new possibilities for our children and grandchildren.”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
The Oxford Growth Commission was established by the Government following calls from Oxford City Council, the University of Oxford, and Oxford Brookes University to help address the growth constraints in and around the city.
It is chaired by Neale Coleman CBE and made up of representatives from Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Advanced Oxford, Homes England, Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Neale Coleman CBE was appointed chair of the Oxford Growth Commission by Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook on 13 May 2025.
The Oxford Growth Commission interim report can be read in full on the government website.
You can read more about Oxford City Council’s Local Government Reorganisation plans on the 3councils website.
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