A public consultation has opened on a set of preferred policy options for a new Local Plan that will shape development in Oxford over the next 20 years.
People and interested groups are invited to take part in the Oxford Local Plan 2036 consultation, which commenced on 30 June and will run until 25 August 2017.
The Local Plan will support Oxford’s role as a fast-growing city by balancing the needs of its current and future residents and businesses. It will aim to generate economic growth for the local and national economy through protecting and allocating sufficient employment sites while maximising the delivery of affordable homes and ensuring that the requirements of those in housing need are met.
The council is exploring options to provide more homes and jobs by increasing densities and heights of buildings.
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Board Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said:
“We are exploring options for developing higher density schemes around transport hubs such as the district centres and the railway station and taller buildings outside the view cones as a means to accommodate the housing needs within the city. The Plan will require high quality design and taller buildings as long as they’re appropriate in terms of location, height, street, historic views, and so on.
“We will continue to support the City Centre and district centres as the most sustainable locations for new development. This approach will support our public transport and other sustainable means of travel and will help to mitigate some of the potential negative impacts associated with economic growth.
“Another key aim is to use the planning system to reduce air pollution, shift journeys to sustainable transport, and reduce the need for journeys by putting homes, jobs and facilities close to one another.”
More information on the options for the Oxford Local Plan 2036, including sites proposed for development, can be found on our website and at public libraries across the city, where people can pick up questionnaires to complete.
On the consultation web page, visitors have the choice of either completing the short questionnaire or using the comment form to submit their views on all of the preferred, alternative and rejected options shown in the preferred options document.
The City Council’s Planning Policy team will also set up a pop-up shop in Ship Street between 11am-2pm from Monday 10 July to Friday 14 July, and will provide more dates in due course for public events at which they will be present to talk to members of the public.
Comments submitted in response to posts on the Local plan on our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter will also be accepted.
To get in touch with the Planning Policy team or submit comments, email planningpolicy@oxford.gov.uk, or call 01865 252847.
Written submissions can also be posted to:
Planning Policy
Oxford City Council
St Aldate’s Chambers
109-113 St Aldate’s,
Oxford City Council
OX1 1DS
The City Council is also consulting on a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Oxford Station Area. The SPD sets out an indicative Masterplan which builds on the original Masterplan that was developed by the Tripartite partnership of Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Network Rail in conjunction with the train operating companies and the Department of Transport. The consultation opened on 30 June and will also run until 25 August 2017.
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