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Have your say in our future!

The latest consultation has opened to give people the opportunity to have their say on The Oxfordshire Plan 2050, an innovative strategic planning framework.

Oxfordshire’s county, city and district councils are working in partnership to deliver this bold and ambitious plan that will enable us to realise our vision that in 2050 the people of Oxfordshire are living in sustainable communities with a high quality of life and strong sense of community.

In early 2019, we undertook an initial consultation to ask for views on what the vision, aspirations, objectives and strategy for the Oxfordshire Plan should be.

We considered the responses we received and identified the following key themes to move forward.

  • Addressing climate change
  • Improving environmental quality
  • Creating strong and healthy communities
  • Planning for Sustainable Travel & Connectivity
  • Creating jobs and providing homes

It is vital to know what you think about these themes and for you to tell us your ideas and suggestions. Your responses will be used to help shape and inform the development and implementation of the plan.

Councillor Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council and Chair of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Member Advisory Group, said: “This is an exciting and important step and I am looking forward to hearing what the public have to say about this important document.

“The Oxfordshire Plan is a chance for all our communities to help shape our future and ensure we create opportunities for all while protecting our environment and tackling climate change.

“I hope that over the coming 10 weeks many people will take the opportunity to have their say.”

The consultation opens on Friday 30th July for ten weeks until Friday 8th October at www.oxfordshireopenthought.org

Additional information and documents are also available on this site.

You can also email comments to info@oxfordshireplan.org or post to Oxfordshire Plan 2050, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, Oxford,

OX1 1NE.

Note to editors:

For further information please contact Michele Smith on 07921 927 881 or email michele.smith@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Your chance to have your say on major future infrastructure plans in Oxfordshire

You can have your say on major future infrastructure plans for Oxfordshire as a consultation opens today (Friday 16 July).

The Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS) provides a framework for Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire’s five planning authorities and key partners to establish strategic infrastructure investment priorities as well as potential opportunities for funding and delivery.

The stage 1 report looking at infrastructure priorities to 2040 is now being consulted upon, with Stage 2 of OxIS planned to be carried out later this year to align with the next stage of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

In order to rank the different projects, the OxIS scores each against five themes – environment, health, place-shaping, productivity and connectivity – resulting in a seven-point scale to determine its relative ability to fulfil Oxfordshire’s future needs to 2040.

The six-week consultation is asking the public to give their views on which of the five themes they feel are most important, whether any strategic infrastructure schemes have been missed and thoughts on the methodology used in the strategy.

Cllr Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Chair of the Oxfordshire Growth Board Infrastructure Advisory Group, said: “The new Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy (OxIS) is a key piece of work that will help us to deliver a sustainable, clean, and healthy future for everyone in the county.

“Infrastructure is more than just transport. It includes other vital services such as education provision, sport and leisure, digital connectivity, energy and healthcare.

“I’d encourage everyone to take part and have their say over the next six weeks .”

You can take part in the consultation by visiting https://www.oxfordshireopenthought.org/oxfordshire-infrastructure-strategy-oxis

The OxIS consultation will be followed by a 10-week consultation for the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 – a long-term spatial plan that will set the framework for future planning decisions about housing and infrastructure needs. Subject to final approval by the City and District councils, the Oxfordshire Plan consultation is scheduled to open on Friday 30 July.

There are clear links between the two, with OxIS setting out how we aim to prioritise and deliver against the important infrastructure strand of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050, and the public is encouraged to take part in both consultations.


Construction begins at new Extra Care housing development for older people in Didcot

A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of construction of a new development of affordable homes for over 55s in Didcot with funding from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

Special guests and representatives met to officially launch the start of work on the new 80 apartment development on land off Greenwood Way at Great Western Park.

The three-storey scheme is being developed by Housing 21, a leading not-for-profit provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care for older people of modest means. It is being built by Deeley Construction.

The development will provide 60 rented apartments and 20 shared ownership apartments for people over the age of 55. On site facilities will include a café/ bistro, hair salon and communal lounge for both residents and local people. Work is set to complete in December 2022, with residents due to start moving in from early 2023.

Debbie Hope, Head of Development at Housing 21, said: “We’re thrilled to have reached this exciting milestone in Didcot. This new development will provide much needed, high quality accommodation to support local older people and their changing needs. People have their own front door in a busy community setting, with 24/7 support from our on-site care team if needed.

“We have designed the buildings around an internal courtyard which provides plenty of important, open green space. The development is also in an excellent location close to the many facilities of Great Western Business Park.” 

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I was delighted to be able to attend the groundbreaking event in Didcot. Extra care housing is something I’ve felt very passionately about and have been promoting in the county for some time now. This exciting new scheme will even provide more support for residents countywide.”

Eleanor Deeley, Deputy Managing Director at Deeley Group, added: “It is great to be working in partnership with Housing 21 again and supporting older people in Didcot. This is set to be a fantastic, state of the art development constructed to the highest standards. 

“We have delivered many Extra Care schemes and are proud to use our expertise to help address the housing needs of an increasingly ageing population.”

Emily Smith, Chair of the Oxfordshire Growth Board, added: “I’m delighted to see the progress of this excellent project which will help improve the lives of our older local people.

“Extra Care housing offers an excellent way for people to stay in their local area and maintain their independence while being able to access around the clock care and support.”

For more information about Housing 21, visit www.housing21.org.uk

Oxfordshire Plan 2050 consultation coming soon

People will soon get the chance to have their say on the latest stage of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.

The Plan will set the framework for future planning decisions on housing and infrastructure needs while seeking to protect our natural environment, tackle climate change and improve quality of life for all.

By planning collectively this will help all of Oxfordshire’s local authorities ensure that future generations can continue to live locally with access to good jobs while enjoying all the benefits of the county – such as its green spaces and cultural heritage.

The next stage of the Plan-making process will ask people to consider policies that seek to address climate change, improve environmental quality, create strong and healthy communities, plan for sustainable travel and connectivity, and create jobs and provide homes.

It will also look at different approaches for distributing growth across the county to best harness the opportunities it will create.

The consultation document needs to be approved by each of Oxfordshire’s planning authorities and this will take place during July’s round of meetings.

Once approved by all councils, the public consultation will open on Friday 30 July and will be open for ten weeks until Sunday 10 October.

The consultation will be online and further details on how to take part will be revealed nearer the launch date.

Councillor Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council and Chair of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Member Advisory Group, said:

“This consultation document sets out several options and suggestions to help inform planning in Oxfordshire for the next 30 years which I am keen to get as much feedback as possible at this stage in the process.

“The Oxfordshire Plan starts to set out ways in which we can deliver the ‘Oxfordshire Vision’ that Growth Board Partners recently adopted, changing the way approach planning our built environment and infrastructure, in a context of Climate emergency.

“I look forward to hearing what local people think of the developing Oxfordshire 2050 Plan over the summer.”

Those wishing to take part can register for the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 mailing list to ensure they receive a link to the online consultation as soon as it opens. Simply email info@oxfordshireplan.org with “Mailing list” in the subject line.