THAME residents are being asked to comment on a replacement for the South Oxfordshire district development plan recently scrapped following new government guildelines.
South Oxfordshire District Council as the planning authority, is asking local people to comment on a review of the key document that sets out future housing development in the region to 2027, which, it says: “… will help deliver much needed housing, opportunities for high quality jobs and thriving town centres across the district.”
The key options the council is now asking for views on includes an option to keep to the original housing numbers, 850, set out in the old South East Plan, but changing the approach to how they are distributed across the district.
“Every year,” states SODC, “we give planning consent to a considerable number of housing developments that are not planned for, but meet our development guidance. We could include these in our overall housing figure, which would help to reduce this, should we be able to do so when Government reforms are announced later this year.”
Another option for SODC is to put in place a density policy. This means, it says, making sure that land is used “as efficiently as possible, to avoid too much or too little development.”
In reviewing its approach, the council has looked again at the preferred sites in Thame for development. (See LINK for backstories on the battle for where new housing should go in Thame)
A development site to the north west of the town (site F) is being promoted by Thame Town Council. The site preferred by SODC is the the so-called option D, farm land between Cuttle Brook and Moreton. This option was chosen, said SODC at the time, after carrying out full appraisals including bio diversity and education, and that the site has good access to the town centre which it is thought, would be more likely to encourage people to walk and cycle to town.
It was also explained that there was no intention to build right up to the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve but to create landscaping to form a recreation area or extension to it.
Those opposing option D, fear that the reserve itself could be damaged and that there would be increased flooding in the area.
More back stories available HERE
Residents have an opportunity to tell SODC what their responses to the core strategy are by channelling them through town, parish councils and community groups, or independently by finding out more at: Have your say or by calling 01491 823725.
Cllr Angie Paterson, Cabinet Member for planning, said:
?We know that for our district to continue to be successful, we need to provide houses and high quality jobs to keep South Oxfordshire a thriving place for us all to enjoy. It is clear the withdrawal of the South East Plan is not a signal for us to stop making plans and the good news is we now have more flexibility from national government.
?Through previous consultation we?ve tried to take on board the views expressed by local residents. We now need views on these key areas. I would encourage residents to make their views known on these through their local town, parish council or community group.”
The consultation period closes on 29 October 2010.
IMAGE: Courtesey of www.maplanda.com – The dark green area, bottom left of image roughly shows SODC’s preferred option for a new housing development in Thame. (Site D)