City Council publishes Oxford North planning application

The public and other stakeholders can comment on the application on our Planning pages. Oxford North is one of the largest site development planning applications received by the City Council for a number of years.

The Northern Gateway area containing Oxford North is a strategic site identified in the local plan for the development of employment space and housing, including affordable housing.

In recognition of its strategic importance not just for the city but also as part of the planned growth of the Oxfordshire economy and the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, significant public funds will be made available to support the right scheme for the area. 

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council secured £5.9 million from central government’s Local Growth Fund, with a further £10 million of funding provisionally secured by Oxford City Council from Homes England, subject to planning permission being granted.

The public funds are to help ensure the planned development meets requirements in terms of sufficient transport infrastructure and housing, including affordable housing.

A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, including a non-technical summary, has been published alongside the Oxford North planning application. These consider the likely impacts of the development – including those on transport, water, air quality - and the steps that are being proposed to mitigate those impacts.

The City Council will follow the prescribed planning process, inviting public comments on the plans on its website and seeking inputs from a wider range of stakeholders and specialists including the Environment Agency, Highways England, Natural England, neighbouring authorities and others.

The City Council’s planning team will hold further discussions with the developer that may seek changes to some aspects of the application. At the appropriate point, the plans will be considered by the West Area Planning Committee.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “Oxford North is a strategically important site for Oxford and the wider economic area. This is a big application for the city and a lot of work for planning officers. They will be assessing the plans against the City Council’s policies on planning and the provision of employment space and housing, including affordable housing. We want as many people as possible to be involved and sharing their views.”