Sites and Homes Development Plan Document

This document will form part of Oxford’s Local Development Framework (LDF). It will allocate sites for development for housing and other development, employment and other uses as well as setting out detailed planning policies that planning applications for housing and other developments will be judged against. Having passed through successive rounds of consultation, the final draft is now a material consideration in planning applications, though it still has to be considered for technical soundness and legal compliance by an independent planning inspector at public hearings in September 2012 before being finally adopted.

The Society has commented extensively on the proposed changes to policies as it is essential that these are got right at this stage.  We are particularly concerned that the proposed policies fail to take account of the problems of traffic and transport which have now reached a level that compromises the quality of life in some areas of the City. We want to see policy strengthened to preclude car ownership anywhere at or in proximity to student housing development. We want cycling to be encouraged.

In addition we commented on a considerable number of the proposed site allocations. The most vigorous debate here concerns building on public car parks. Retailers, in particular, have been vociferous in objecting to the loss of parking spaces, which they see as detrimental to their businesses. Of course, the vitality of the city’s neighbourhoods depends on the presence of thriving commerce, but this must be balanced by many other factors.

See the Society’s full Response to the Consultation