Chapter 2: Progress on development plan documents and other non-statutory documents
Chapter 2: Contnets
The Local Development Scheme
2.1. The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is a project plan that sets out timescales for the preparation and revision of documents in Oxford’s Local Plan (OLP) and other planning policy documents. This monitoring period is covered in the LDS for Oxford which was published in January 2025 and covers the period 2025-2030. It is viewable on our LDS page. Table 1 below sets out progress against the LDS during the monitoring period.
| Document title | LDS timescale (as relevant to the monitoring period) | Progress during the 2024/25 monitoring year |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford Local Plan 2036 | Adopted June 2020 | Policies in use in decision making on planning applications. |
|
Adopted Policies Map |
Adopted June 2020 |
Reflects the adopted policies in the OLP 2036. |
|
Oxford Local Plan 2042 |
An early engagement consultation survey was open for six weeks, running from 17 March 2025 to 28 April 2025. (N.B. Further engagement was held later in 2025 and will be reported on in next year's AMR) |
Early engagement to inform the 2042 local plan regulation 18 consultation. |
Duty to Co-operate
2.2. The Duty to Co-operate, introduced by the Localism Act 2011, requires on-going, constructive collaboration and active engagement with neighbouring authorities and other statutory bodies when preparing Local Plan documents.
2.3. The City Council has also been actively involved in several on-going joint-working and partnership relationships, which help to provide a shared evidence base for plan making and addressing strategic and cross-boundary issues. This includes the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee (formally the Oxfordshire Leaders Joint Committee/Oxfordshire Growth Board); and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); Engagement with other stakeholders about Duty to Co-operate matters is very important in the development of the Oxford Local Plan 2042, and commentary about these processes is provided in more detail in the General Statement of Common Ground for Duty to Co-operate - see our Oxford Local Plan 2045: Duty to Cooperate page.
2.4. This detailed Duty to Co-operate Statement is a live document kept updated as the Local Plan continues, as discussions progress and evidence is produced. It forms part of the evidence base published for the Local Plan submission. In addition to this general statement, Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) have been and will be produced with individual district authorities, the County Council and other statutory bodies.
Neighbourhood plans
2.5. The 2011 Localism Act introduced new powers for communities that enable them to be directly involved in planning for their areas. Neighbourhood planning allows communities to come together through a parish council or neighbourhood forum to produce a Neighbourhood Plan.
2.6. The Littlemore Regulation 16 consultation for its Neighbourhood Plan finished on 9 December 2024. Although outside the monitoring period, it is notable that the examination was held in April 2025.
Consultations
2.7. During the monitoring year the following consultations took place:
2.8. Oxford Local Plan 2042 – Early Engagement Survey
Consultation dates: 17 March 2025 to 28 April 2025
Summary of what we did: The early engagement survey was designed to gather local input to help shape the Local Plan 2042. The feedback will be used to review previous consultation materials, background studies, and evidence base documents. This takes feedback for the development of options for addressing key issues within the broader planning framework.
Following this initial survey, the drafting of the Local Plan 2042 will continue to involve all of Oxford’s communities and stakeholders. Future consultations in 2025 will include the formal “Preferred Options” (Regulation 18) consultation, where any concerns or questions can be raised, and the “Submission” (Regulation 19) consultation on the final draft of the plan.
After these consultations have been conducted, the plan will be submitted for public examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
