Chipping Norton residents among thousands having their say on the district's future

The views are being analysed and considered for the district council’s Draft Local Plan, whose final public consultation has closed. The plan will shape development until 2043.

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has welcomed the overwhelmingly strong response from thousands of residents and organisations.

The latest six-week consultation, running from August 26 – October 9, attracted more than 1,600 comments, bringing to a close the council’s biggest public engagement exercise to date. Across the five stages of public consultation, more than 8,500 comments have been received from over 2,500 individuals and organisations.

Councillor Andy Graham, WODC leader, said: "I'm delighted by the response to our Local Plan consultations and want to thank everyone who has taken the time to contribute. This has been the biggest public engagement exercise the council has ever undertaken and the thousands of comments received show how much people care about the future of our district.

"We've made a real effort to involve our communities throughout this process and their feedback has helped shape and strengthen the proposals at each stage. This is what meaningful public engagement should achieve: giving people the opportunity to influence decisions about the places they live and helping us plan positively for West Oxfordshire's future."

WODC says the level of participation achieved reflects the effectiveness of the council's engagement throughout the process and the importance residents place on the future of their communities. The feedback received at each stage has helped shape and strengthen the emerging Local Plan, ensuring that local views and concerns have informed the proposals.

The final consultation gave people the opportunity to scrutinise the full draft Plan before it is submitted for independent examination.

The Draft Local Plan sets out a vision for West Oxfordshire through to 2043, with a focus on delivering quality and affordable homes, securing the infrastructure and public services communities need, improving transport connections, supporting local jobs and protecting the district’s environment and character.

Alongside an online consultation platform and virtual exhibition, the Council held three well-attended public drop-in events in Chipping Norton, Witney, Carterton. These gave residents the opportunity to explore the proposals, ask questions and speak directly with the Planning Policy team.

Feedback from the latest consultation covered a wide range of issues with particular interest in housing delivery, infrastructure requirements, the water environment and proposed locations for future development. These comments build on the issues raised throughout the earlier consultations, including the need for genuinely affordable housing, adequate infrastructure and essential services, and strong protection for the environment and the character of West Oxfordshire’s communities.

Councillor Liz Leffman, WODC Executive Member for Planning and Infrastructure, said: "Our draft Plan reflects the priorities people have raised, with a stronger focus on genuinely affordable homes, particularly social rented properties, stronger protections for rivers and natural environment and an Infrastructure Delivery Plan that identifies the improvements needed to support growth and helps us make the case for future investment.

"We'll now carefully consider the comments as we prepare the Plan for submission at the end of December, before it undergoes independent examination next year."

The Council will now review the representations received and prepare a detailed consultation statement setting out the issues raised and the Council's responses.