Local Investment in Infrastructure

At today's cabinet I spoke on an interesting report which was directed at local investment agreements on infrastructure for housing development. You can read the full report if you click on this link and scroll down to Item ll. Basically, Oxfordshire County Council is signing up with the Homes and Communities Agency to what is termed a 'Local Investment Agreement', which will set out the necessary infrastructure to be provided for housing developments all over the county.

I referred to Grove's lack of facilities which was a result of houses without infrastructure in the past and urged that this should not happen again. Indeed, if there is any doubt that necessary roads, schools, and other investment will not be provided then we cannot go ahead with the housing. District Council local plans are very much up in the air at the moment depending on what the national government decide on planning, so maybe there is some merit in revisiting our area for any housing targets.

Developers for the airfield site have recently changed their plans from the original proposals on where some of the community facilities will be located on the site. The district and parish have voiced objections to this. The latest I heard was that a planning application may be forthcoming later this year - with an exhibition planned in Grove on 16th and 17th July at the Old Mill Hall. Will keep you posted, but I would urge residents to attend if possible and make their views known.