Profile and activity for Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council3 years ago Under Scenario 1, we would roll forward the strategy of the current Local Plan which is based on a ‘hierarchal’ approach as follows: A significant proportion of new homes, jobs and supporting services focused at the 3 main service centres of Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton; Additional growth at the rural service centres, with Eynsham having a particularly important role (including a new village – Salt Cross – to the north) and Woodstock being identified as suitable for a reasonable scale of development. More modest levels of development at the other rural service centres of Burford, Charlbury, Bampton and Long Hanborough to help reinforce their existing roles; Limited development in villages; and Development in small villages, hamlets and open countryside restricted to that which requires and is appropriate for a rural location. Figure 1 – Illustration of Hierarchal ApproachThe rationale for this strategy is that the District’s larger settlements, in particular Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton offer the broadest range of services and facilities, are accessible by a choice of transport modes and offer a good number of job opportunities.Many of our other larger towns and villages also offer a good range of services and opportunities but as settlements become smaller, their ability to absorb additional growth in a sustainable manner is generally reduced because people tend to need their cars more as other options become limited.Under Scenario 1, this general ‘hierarchal’ approach would be rolled forward into the new Local Plan, with any future development (beyond existing commitments) being considered and planned for on this basis. (i.e. further growth focused primarily at the 3 main towns, followed by the rural service centres and then the larger villages). Some broad commentary on this potential approach is provided below (please note: this is not intended to be exhaustive). Well supported through consultation when the last Local Plan was prepared; Accepted as a ‘sound’ approach by the previous Planning Inspector; Likely to encourage less car use and thus reduce transport related carbon emissions by offering more alternatives (public transport, walking and cycling) and good access to services and facilities; Larger settlements generally likely to include previously developed (brownfield) land which may be re-purposed for another use or mix of uses; Allows for a proportion of future growth to take place in smaller settlements thus helping support their vitality and viability and enabling development sites to be locally identified (e.g. through Neighbourhood Plans); Would help to provide a balanced mix of sites and opportunities; Avoids much of the Cotswolds National Landscape (where there is a presumption against major development other than in exceptional circumstances); Many larger settlements (e.g. Witney, Carterton, Eynsham, Long Hanborough) have already absorbed a significant amount of growth in recent years and/or have future growth already committed.

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council3 years ago Scenario 2 would involve focusing the vast majority of future development (beyond existing commitments) more specifically at the three main service centres of Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton. These towns offer a broad range of services and facilities, good public transport accessibility and provide a mix of job opportunities. Two of them (Witney and Carterton) also lie outside the Cotswolds National Landscape where the scale and extent of development is expected to be limited. Under this scenario, proportionately less development (beyond existing commitments) would then take place at the rural service centres and villages and development elsewhere would continue to be restricted to that which requires a rural location. Some broad commentary on this potential approach is provided below. The primary focus on the 3 main towns was well supported when the last local plan was prepared; The three main service centres offer the broadest range of services and facilities in the District and are thus potentially well placed to accommodate further growth; They also provide a good range of opportunities for the re-use of previously developed (brownfield land) in line with national policy; Witney and Carterton lie outside the Cotswolds National Landscape where the scale and extent of development is expected to be limited; Witney and Carterton have already absorbed a significant amount of growth in recent years; Proportionately less development taking place in the smaller settlements would limit the opportunity to provide new homes in those locations including affordable housing.

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council3 years ago Under this final scenario, we would look to focus future growth (beyond existing commitments) along key public transport corridors and around public transport hubs e.g. rail stations. In a recent rail study commissioned by the County Council, the consultants stated that by 2031, car journeys along the A40 will take up to 30 minutes longer.In focusing development where the availability of public transport is good, people will be less likely to use their car, helping to reduce congestion and carbon emissions - particularly with increased electrification of our public transport services.Public transport options in West Oxfordshire are however variable in terms of coverage and frequency.In terms of bus services, although good, frequent services run along the A40 and A44 including services to Oxford, journey times can be affected by congestion, particularly at peak times. Coverage across much of the rest of the District, in particular more rural areas, is sporadic or even non-existent in some locations, particularly off-peak.Oxfordshire County is currently progressing its Smart Corridor project which will see the provision of bus priority measures along the A40, including east and westbound bus lanes as well as improved pedestrian and cycle connectivity. Improvements to the A44 are also scheduled as part of the North Oxford Corridor (NOC) project.In terms of rail services, the District is served by two main rail lines, the Cotswold line and the Cherwell Valley Line.The Cotswold line passes through the largely rural central part of the District, connecting several towns and villages with Hereford in the west and Oxford and London in the east. Stations are located at Long Hanborough, Combe, Finstock, Charlbury, Ascott under Wychwood, Shipton under Wychwood and Kingham.A very small proportion of the Cherwell Valley Line runs through the eastern part of the District with a station at Tackley providing services northwards to Birmingham and southwards to Oxford and onto London Paddington.Notably, none of the District’s main towns (Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton) are served by rail. However, Oxfordshire County Council have recently commissioned work to further investigate the concept of a possible new railway line solution from Carterton and Witney to Oxford and to establish if there is a strategic need for the proposed railway line and any resulting investment required.Four potential station locations have been identified at Carterton West, Carterton North, Witney and Eynsham with initial assessments suggesting the journey would take approximately 23 minutes from Carterton, 16 minutes from Witney, and 11 minutes from Eynsham. Although the provision of a new railway line would be a costly (£500m+) and complex project to bring forward, the study concludes that the journey time savings compared to anticipated bus and car journey times in 2031 are considerable, with nearly an hour saved against the relevant car journey from Carterton and Witney, and more than half an hour from Eynsham. Compared with buses, the time savings are about an hour from Carterton, 40 minutes from Witney, and 25 minutes from Eynsham. A new railway line would also assist with longer-term capacity issues along the A40.Taking account of the above, a public transport focused scenario would therefore see future additional growth focused in locations where there are good current and potential future opportunities to use public transport such as the A40 and A44 for bus services and along the Cotswold rail line for rail. Depending on how the project progresses, this could also include consideration of future development taking place along the potential Carterton – Oxford rail line. Some broad commentary on this potential approach is provided below. Would help to encourage ‘modal shift’ away from the use of the private car and towards increased use of public transport; Potentially reduces carbon emissions – particularly with the electrification of bus services; The A40 and A44 corridors and the Cotswold rail line include a number of larger settlements which have a good range of services and facilities available; Development along the route of the potential Carterton – Oxford rail route could possibly help to fund it (e.g. through land value capture); Coverage of public transport across the District is variable; Much of the Cotswold rail line runs through the Cotswolds National Landscape where the scale and extent of development is expected to be limited; The potential Carterton – Oxford rail line is at a feasibility study stage only; This approach would mean further growth at a number of towns and villages which have already absorbed a significant amount of development in recent years (e.g. Carterton, Witney, Eynsham, Long Hanborough, Woodstock).

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council3 years ago Under Scenario 4, most future development (beyond existing commitments) would be focused narrowly at Carterton as the District’s second largest town and service centre. Whilst perhaps not as diverse as Witney in terms of available services and facilities, Carterton still offers a great deal including frequent bus services, education and community facilities, a leisure centre, shops and a high quality country park. It is also home to RAF Brize Norton, the largest RAF station in the country. Carterton has grown significantly in recent years with around 1,400 additional homes and supporting facilities provided at Shilton Park in the northern part of the town and a further 700 homes currently under construction at Brize Meadow to the east of the town in the parish of Brize Norton. There has also been some development in and around the town centre, including new supermarkets, cafes and restaurants alongside improvements to the public realm.Like Witney, the size of Carterton means that there are large areas of previously developed (brownfield) land including that which is associated with RAF Brize Norton. We are also aware of a number of undeveloped sites on the edge of the town which are being made available for development by landowners in adjoining parishes.Carterton also lies outside the Cotswolds National Landscape and as such, there is no expectation that the scale and extent of development should be limited.However, the town has no direct (A-road) access from the A40, it has a relative imbalance of homes and jobs which contributes to out-commuting and whilst the town centre has improved in recent years, it still ‘underperforms’ compared to some other destinations. Some broad commentary on this potential approach is provided below. Carterton is the District’s second largest town and offers a good range of services and facilities; Traffic congestion is not generally a concern but the town has no direct (A-road) access to the A40; The town offers good opportunities for the re-use of previously developed (brownfield) land and buildings including land associated with RAF Brize Norton and sites in and around the Town Centre; Various parcels of undeveloped land on the fringes of the town in adjoining parishes are also known to be available for development; Carterton lies outside the Cotswolds National Landscape where the scale and extent of development is expected to be limited; Focusing development primarily in one location would limit the opportunity to provide new homes elsewhere in the District; Carterton has a relative imbalance of homes and jobs leading to out-commuting; The impact of noise and lighting from RAF Brize Norton has been previously raised through consultation.

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council2 years ago As part of the open invitation for stakeholders to put forward their thoughts on how land in the district might be used in the future / the associated Call for sites (ideas and opportunities), please find attached an area of land at Finstock for consideration.We would like the Local Plan 2041 Planning Policy team to consider the land (edged red) for new housing with associated community facilities.

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council2 years ago

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council2 years ago The site is in a highly sustainable location and benefits from a close proximity to schools, local services, facilities, and employment opportunities. This includes industrial and business parks to the south of Witney, a foodstore and hotels in the north of Ducklington, bus routes along Witney Road, and Ducklington Lake and Country Park.The site is located in a sustainable location within walking and cycling distance to local amenities and employment.

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council2 years ago

Planning Policy West Oxfordshire District Council

All input submitted by this participant

Scenario 1 - Hierarchal approach

Scenario 2 - Main Service Centre Focus (Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton)

Scenario 8 - Public Transport Focus

Scenario 4 – Carterton Focus

Land north of High Street, Finstock

Land east of London Lane, Ascott Under Wychwood

Land at Church End, South Leigh

Land off Station Road, South Leigh

Land off Chapel Road, South Leigh

Paddock off Station Road, South Leigh

Land north of the A40, west of Barnard Gate

Land south of Freeland

Land at Osney, north of A4095

Osney Hill Farm Business Centre, south of A4095

Land south of A4095, North Leigh

North Leigh Football Club

Enstone Business Park Intensification and Expansion

Land south of Standlake Road, Ducklington

Land West of Rousham Road, Tackley (Site C)

Land South of Medcroft Road, Tackley (Site B)

Land North of Medcroft Road, Tackley (Site A)

Land at Dark Lane, Witney

Land north east of Fairspear Road, Leafield

Land North of Burford School, Burford