Yesterday the South East Regional Assembly (SEERA) published the Independent Inspector's Report on the Draft South East Housing Plan. This looks at how much housing should be built in Oxfordshire and the rest of south east England .
For Oxfordshire, the Draft South East Plan proposed building 2,360 homes each year in Oxfordshire over the 20 year period. The inspectors’ report proposes a slightly higher figure of 2,730 but endorses Oxfordshire County Council's call for sufficient investment in infrastructure to support those new houses in terms of schools, health services, road and rail improvements, water and sewerage. So although this has effectively slashed the government's expectations for new housing, we shall have to wait to hear from the Government Minister, Hazel Blears, who will have the final say. A summary of the report can be found at this link:
http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/inspectors_report.html
What may cause some concern for Oxfordshire County Council's planners is the Panel's recommendation for a strategic urban extension of 4,000 dwellings on the southern edge of Oxford which will require a "highly focused selective" review of the Green Belt. Considering the County Council have advocated housing growth at Bicester, Didcot and Wantage/Grove, will this mean there will be a change in direction now or not? It would be interesting to hear your views on this debate.
For Oxfordshire, the Draft South East Plan proposed building 2,360 homes each year in Oxfordshire over the 20 year period. The inspectors’ report proposes a slightly higher figure of 2,730 but endorses Oxfordshire County Council's call for sufficient investment in infrastructure to support those new houses in terms of schools, health services, road and rail improvements, water and sewerage. So although this has effectively slashed the government's expectations for new housing, we shall have to wait to hear from the Government Minister, Hazel Blears, who will have the final say. A summary of the report can be found at this link:
http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/inspectors_report.html
What may cause some concern for Oxfordshire County Council's planners is the Panel's recommendation for a strategic urban extension of 4,000 dwellings on the southern edge of Oxford which will require a "highly focused selective" review of the Green Belt. Considering the County Council have advocated housing growth at Bicester, Didcot and Wantage/Grove, will this mean there will be a change in direction now or not? It would be interesting to hear your views on this debate.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.