Consultation:
Regulation 19 Consultation – South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse District Councils Joint Local Plan 2041.
Our Response:
OPT was established in 1927 as a charity and local amenity society with the principal aim of conserving and enhancing Oxford and its setting. It takes a forward thinking and positive approach to development, looking to influence change rather than stopping it, preserving the best of the old and encouraging the best of the new. It is committed to ensuring that Oxford can continue to flourish and prosper, whilst protecting its historic character and setting.
OPT owns and looks after over 1000 acres of land in and around Oxford, preserving important parts of the city’s green setting and making it available for everyone to enjoy.
OPT has detailed knowledge and expertise built over many years. It is an experienced voice, able to advise on matters relating to landscape, views and the potential impact of development on the city of Oxford, its green setting and environs. Both Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils have land which falls within this green setting, with the district boundaries sitting in these highly sensitive areas.
Our comments are focused on the following issues:
- Green Setting of the city of Oxford;
- Preservation and enhancement of the Green Belt;
- Protection of special views and view cones;
- Strategic approach to renewable energy schemes;
- Allocated sites
- The Duty to Cooperate
- Green Setting of the city of Oxford
OPT considers that a specific policy relating to the protection of the green setting of the city of Oxford is required. The city’s green setting is a significant part of the special historic character of the city, along with the views from the city centre out towards the green hills and areas beyond. The historic centre of the city sits at a lower level than its wider surrounds. This is what creates the unique feature of almost 360 degree views of the green hills from a number of elevated viewpoints within the city. The significance of this green setting should be highlighted and protected within a policy that specifically protects it from inappropriate development. This is particularly relevant for areas such as Boars Hill, Elsfield, Harcourt Hill and Nuneham Park.
- Preservation and enhancement of the Green Belt
OPT is pleased that the existing Green Belt boundaries have been retained and no changes proposed, or the release of additional land to accommodate future growth. OPT support the retention of sites such as the Harcourt Hill campus within the Green Belt to ensure future development can be carefully managed without harm to the wider surrounding Green Belt. It is pleasing to see the sites allocation continues to be for educational use and the development of a masterplan for the site is a condition of this allocation.
OPT is disappointed to see that policy STRAT6 within the current local plan has been replaced by proposed Policy SP1 within the proposed joint plan. STRAT6 was a specific policy relating to the Green Belt, highlighting its importance and setting out the very clear parameters for what development would and would not be permitted.
Whilst there is guidance relating to the Green Belt within proposed policy SP1, this sits within the wider more strategic policy text. A strong stand-alone policy on Green Belt protection is required to ensure this most sensitive of landscapes is protected. There is likely to be increasing pressure on Green Belt land should the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) come into force, as the proposed changes could result in an increase in housing numbers across Oxfordshire. This is likely to place further pressure on Local Authorities to release areas of Green Belt to accommodate this need.
- Protection of special views and view cones
OPT supports the reference, within proposed Policy NH6 – Landscape, to the Oxford View Cones and the “Assessment of the Oxford View Cones” study published in 2015. Many of the historic views Oxford’s exceptional skyline are from the surrounding hills, on areas of open land mainly located within Vale of White Horse or South Oxfordshire District boundaries. Development within the foreground of these views can also be harmful to the longer distance view. OPT would support reference to this within the policy supporting text.
- Strategic approach to renewable energy schemes
OPT considers it to be of critical – and increasing – importance that an overarching policy be developed regarding the preferred locations for renewable energy projects. In recent years large areas of Green Belt land have been lost to large solar farm projects. A policy which sets out a sequential test, with Green Belt land being the least preferred option to accommodate such development, could ensure that in the future less Green Belt land is lost to “inappropriate development”. This could be provided either within the Local Plan or as a separate document.
Whilst proposed policy CE5 does make reference to the Green Belt, this guidance should be strengthened to stipulate that the release of Green Belt land for such developments should be the last resort, after brownfield and other areas of land have been considered.
- Allocated sites
OPT has previously objected to the allocation of the following sites: Bayswater Brook (Policy AS5), Northfield (Policy AS4) and Grenoble Road (Policy AS3). OPT continues to have concerns about these site allocations and the effect of them in eroding the Green Belt and the setting of Oxford. However, given the acute housing need in the city and the fact these sites have already been allocated under the current Local Plan, OPT does not wish to make any further comment at this time. OPT is pleased to see though that the previous allocated site at Baywater Farm is proposed to be removed.
- The Duty to Cooperate
It is imperative that the neighbouring local authorities continue to work together to ensure a strategic and joined up approach is taken towards the future growth of Oxfordshire. It is clear that South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse will have to work with, along the other neighbouring authorities, Oxford City to agree a way forward to meet housing needs over the local plan period.
Not only should a joined up approach be taken with regard to growth, but one should also be taken to protecting and preserving the unique historic character of Oxford. Whilst it seems strange to be talking about Oxford City within the context of the Joint South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse Local plan, when the city is not located within either District, land within the two districts play a significant role in its long term preservation. We therefore hope that the Duty to Cooperate will also extend to working together to help continue to protect views the city’s green setting and established view cones.
OPT will continue to engage with the joint local plan process, aiming to assist in ensuring that the final plan adopted is one that can protect and enhance Oxford and its special setting whilst also delivering sustainable growth which will meet the needs of the District, and wider Oxfordshire’s communities.