Spring 2021 Campaigning to protect our rural county www.cpreoxon.org.uk Voice

We celebrate CPRE Oxfordshire’s Green Belt Calls for an independent 90th anniversary development plans housing assessment p.4-5 p.8-9 p.10 Oxfordshire Chairman’s voice

Spring 2021 A second Branch success has been Voice an internal matter. The health of a Contents long-term committee depends on a process of renewal matching the 2 Chairman’s voice stability and experience commanded by continuity. However, in the 4 CPRE Oxfordshire 1931-2021 modern world, charities up and 6 Planning updates down the Kingdom are finding the latter easier to maintain than the 8-9 Protecting the Oxford former. Not so CPRE Oxfordshire Green Belt which has attracted and, at its March 10 Independent Housing meeting, co-opted seven, yes seven, Needs Assessment new Trustees – admittedly, two coming to us because of change 11 District Updates in Chairmanship of two District Committees. With their considerable – DIRECTORY and variety of – skills and experience, Views expressed in the Voice are not Should a valedictory Chairman’s Voice the new women and men are already necessarily those of CPRE Oxfordshire, be the usual ‘tour d’horizon’, a ‘State making their presence felt and make which welcomes independent comment. of the Campaign’ message, or do our a fine addition to our Executive Editor: Julia Benning members deserve something more, Committee. You will find their names Cover: Little Wittenham/David Marsh something different? in the AGM papers, alongside those Articles, letters, comments and suggestions for articles are welcome. of other members nominated for Please contact the Branch Office below. This Chairman, on the point of election. Published April 2021 departure, has been fortunate to be able to announce two particular The Executive Committee loses, Branch Chairman achievements of Branch during alas, three Trustees who have each CPRE Oxfordshire Branch Peter Collins his watch and, though very much given extraordinary service over [email protected] a joint effort, reflect well on CPRE many years. Both Gill Salway and Oxfordshire for its continuing work Bruce Tremayne were not only noted district Chairs over the last four years. Chairmen, Bruce even for two spells Cherwell: David Gilmour of duty, but were then and until this [email protected] One, known through the media to all, day, the first source of wisdom and Oxford: Contact the Branch Office as below is the removal by the Government of knowledge sought by the CPRE South Oxfordshire: the word and the future reality of an Committees in the Districts where Professor Richard Harding ‘Expressway’ from the vocabulary they live. They have contributed 01491 836425 concerning the Oxford-Cambridge in so many different ways to our [email protected] Arc, or now, ‘Growth Corridor’. We activities. Gordon Garraway has Vale of White Horse: Heneage Legge-Bourke can hardly be blamed for this success too, but his name, and hence our [email protected] on our own – there are a number name, is known far and wide for one West Oxfordshire: of Counties, let alone organisations particular contribution: an expertise Philippa Phelan (Chair Elect) across the Arc, which have also on the County’s footpaths and by- c/o [email protected] worked tirelessly to resist the ways, including the creation of the building of this road which would Way for which he Branch Office have cut a swathe through our green won a National CPRE medal. Future CPRE Oxfordshire, First Floor, 20 High Street, Watlington, Oxfordshire OX49 5PY and pleasant land. However, we can opportunities to gain advice from all (Registered office) at least claim that our organisation’s three should not be lost, and you will T: 01491 612079 prestige has given us access to find nominations as Vice-President E: [email protected] many important discussions along in your AGM papers. We also much www.cpreoxon.org.uk the way and can have done no harm regret losing our Trustee and West CPRE Oxfordshire is registered in England to the cause. We thank those of you Oxfordshire Chairman, John Histon, as Charity No.1093081 and Company No. 04443278. who have sent us congratulatory who has had to withdraw on health messages. There of course remain grounds. He is replaced by Philippa Follow us on Twitter challenges in respect of excessive Phelan and the new Vale Chairman is @CPREOxfordshire building and road ‘improvements’ Heneage Legge-Bourke. We welcome and like us on along the Ox-Cam Corridor, some them both. www.facebook.com/CPREOxfordshire continuing to threaten Oxford’s Green Belt, that will give my successor some That the Executive Committee can

Design: Rob Bowker employment. speak with authority often depends Print: Severnprint Ltd

2 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Spring 2021 on expert advice. To a twenty-one imposition of undesirable diktats from year-old Lecturer at St Edmund Hall in Whitehall, in particular concerning the Heneage 1966, my senior colleagues seemed to Arc/Corridor. have some age about them. However, Legge-Bourke Ian Scargill was young then and We refuse to be submerged by maintained his youthful enthusiasm the fast increasing number of New chair of CPRE as longtime Chairman of the Oxford planning consultations emanating Vale of White Horse Green Belt Network. So, you will from Whitehall, and are working understand that it is with personal, closely with National CPRE in their as well as institutional, sadness that I response on behalf of the CPRE have now to record his retirement as Network. Our main interest has been an Honorary Consultant. Legend in his in demonstrating the importance lifetime, he has done immense good of democratic involvement of local work for Oxfordshire. We welcome people in determining decisions that Martin Harris, another experienced closely affect them. We are glad that, Green Belter in his place, and also as as a result of CPRE’s intervention, Honorary Consultant, Lisa Cheung, the Government has withdrawn a senior planner at another place, yet another of their unfortunate but maybe not a place you expect: algorithms that would inter alia have Chelsea and Kensington. doubled the currently proposed increase in housing in the Vale and Is longevity a success? That probably Cherwell Districts. depends on what has been achieved along the way. I note that this In closing this sequence of messages year records ninety years of CPRE to you, I want to express my Oxfordshire’s existence. Celebrations thanks. I have clocked up quite a Brought up on a small dairy farm will take place later in the year when few committees over the years, in the heart of The Fens in the Isle we hope to be able get together in but none have been so rewarding of Ely, Heneage was educated in person. This will give us the welcome and worthwhile as the two I have the UK, France and Switzerland. opportunity to applaud our retiring chaired for CPRE in Oxfordshire, His working life as a banker and Trustees and not forget my earlier the District Committee in the Vale corporate treasurer was mostly anticipation concerning one long- and then Branch. I am grateful for in Brazil and France from where serving member of the Executive the many friendships I have made he retired to Portugal. Returning Committee who continues as Trustee when pursuing our cause. It would to the UK in 2012 to live in Norfolk after his retirement as Treasurer. He be invidious to single out anyone in he joined the Diss and Thetford is Brian Wood, my predecessor as particular; so, I will – but not any of branch of the Citizens Advice Chairman, who has now received the my fellow Trustees on the Executive Bureau (CAB) as a Trustee and accolade of a National CPRE award. Committee, nor the ever-helpful Honorary Treasurer. Moving to the However, none of our venerable communications and administration Vale in 2017 he resigned from the figures are quite ninety yet! You friends in the Watlington Office. John CAB and became a Trustee and need not watch this space for event Harwood has brought a special and Honorary Treasurer of another information – we’ll let you know! very individual perspective to his small charity, the Association rôle as President, as well as being for Glycogen Storage Disease, Certainly a notable success great fun to work with! I was told from which he resigned in 2018. is the receipt of a substantial when I was encouraged to allow Impressed by what he had heard grant to enable us to join with my name to go forward for the post about CPRE and his appreciation Wild Oxfordshire in delivering a that it would take up perhaps eight of the importance of preserving community hedgerow project with hours of each week. My experience the beautiful countryside of the aim of reshaping and enhancing is that it is nearer eighty! That it is the Vale he became a member Oxfordshire’s landscape. We hope at all manageable is because of of the local district of CPRE in this will become an exemplar, the the assistance I have had from our 2019 joining the committee soon influence of which will extend far Director, Helen Marshall. No request thereafter. He was elected district beyond the County’s boundaries. is ever too much trouble. Every reply chairman at the beginning of 2021. Please see an article elsewhere in has been properly considered – and Father of two grown-up children this issue. we even agree on quite a lot! who both live in Portugal, he lives in the pretty village of Woolstone Our summer focus will be on I knew it was an honour when I took in the shadow of the Uffington discussions with the Oxfordshire on the rôle, and that is how it will White Horse together with his Growth Board about the ‘Oxfordshire remain in my thoughts. Thank you. other half and a very independent- 2050’ plan. We construe that an minded and feisty Lakeland terrier. early determination of what the plan Peter Collins, may contain could help resist the Chairman

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 3 CPRE Oxfordshire 1931-2021 the story so far…

1940s In 1972 CPRE, farmers and wildlife enthusiasts formed the Otmoor By 1942 Oxford city was discussing Defence Committee to protect plans for major growth in response Otmoor from plans to flood the entire to the Government wishing to 4,000-acre site to create a reservoir. expand the country’s economy. CPRE The Oxfordshire Way was created in advocated a restrained approach 1930s 1973 by CPRE Oxfordshire to provide CPRE Oxfordshire was founded on for the ancient city of Oxford and its a 65-mile link between the Cotswolds 7th March 1931 at the County Hall, surrounding villages and the creation and the Chilterns. It was the first Oxford. John Buchan, the famous of the Oxford Green Belt, advocating long-distance recreational walking author, MP and statesman, lived at protection of unspoilt villages route using rights of way created by Manor near Oxford from 1919 and countryside around Oxford. It the CPRE Oxfordshire’s Rights of Way to 1935. A passionate advocate of also proposed that new satellite Committee, chaired by Colonel d’Arcy preserving the English countryside, towns were unnecessary, and that Dalton. he became CPRE Oxfordshire’s first new industry and jobs could be Chairman. accommodated in the market towns.

1950s CPRE Oxfordshire warned of the dangers of engineer-led road and re- development schemes. Green Belts were introduced across the country in the 1950s, CPRE was instrumental in the Oxford Green Belt 1980s Campaigns included warning of CPRE Oxfordshire played a large proposal, submitted in 1956 (finally the dangers of unchecked ribbon part in the successful campaign approved in 1975). development and urban sprawl to the to prevent Otmoor becoming a countryside; reservoir, the plan was dropped in calls for an effective national and 1960s 1984. Celebrations were short-lived: local planning system to control In 1960 CPRE Oxfordshire played a Government plans to extend the M40 development; key role in the rejection of a huge proposed cutting across Otmoor was pushing local authorities to use 5,000-acre mineral extraction site an option. the initial planning powers that the near Deddington. CPRE District Groups combined Government had given them. The existence of many of the rights of forces with local villages to stop a Petrol filling stations and garages way in the Oxfordshire countryside new town ‘Stone Bassett’ near Great had started appearing alongside owes a great deal to the work of Haseley being built. The speculative Oxfordshire country roads and a small, dedicated band of CPRE planning application for 6,000 were a particular concern, along volunteers during the 1960s and 70s. dwellings was rejected after Public with electricity pylons and roadside This work began with their input into Inquiry. advertising. public inquiries into the Definitive A long campaign to open a Forest Maps of Public Rights of Way. Path through Wychwood finally saw fruition when it was declared a 1970s Public Footpath. The path, used for centuries, had been blocked and Throughout the 1970s CPRE opened to the public one day a year. Oxfordshire was successful in saving historic buildings that would otherwise have been lost in a time of recession: Tithe Barn at Merton, Witney Corn Exchange and Conservation Area, Wallingford Castle. CPRE Oxfordshire also helped ensure Great Tew was declared a conservation area. The CPRE Oxfordshire Buildings Preservation Trust was created in 1972.

4 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Spring 2021 CPRE Oxfordshire 1931-2021 the story so far… Dates for your diary 1990s 2010s CPRE Oxfordshire worked with local After 25 years of campaigning the parishes and the District Council to Cogges Link Road was turned down create a sustainable plan for former by Justine Greening, Secretary of Upper Heyford air base. State. Gill Salway and the CPRE West CPRE Oxfordshire fought vigorously Oxfordshire team received a national against a scheme, nicknamed the CPRE award for their campaign. “Tin Hat” because of its shape, to Need Not Greed Oxfordshire, a construct a new outer bypass above coalition of local campaign groups, the Ring Road at North Oxford and was founded in 2016. Headington. It was withdrawn in 1995. The Kingsmere Copse was planted to mark CPRE Oxforfdshire’s 80th anniversary in 2011. An exhibition of Alun Jones’ wonderful maps, most of which were drawn for CPRE Oxfordshire, was held at Lincoln College, Oxford, in 2015.

©Carter Jonas-Oxford 2020s 2000s Most recently CPRE Oxfordshire has Anniversary CPRE Oxfordshire created the Oxford been heavily involved in campaigning Green Belt Way, a 50-mile circular against the OxCam Expressway, plans picnic walk around Oxford – one mile for for which have now been dropped. each year since the designation of CPRE Cherwell District group were Join us to celebrate the Oxford’s Green Belt in 1956. instrumental in ensuring Hornton 90th Anniversary of CPRE Downs remain protected when a Oxfordshire. On Saturday 11th large fuel depot was refused planning September we will be hosting a permission. walk and picnic in the grounds of Elsfield Manor, the home of Colonel John Buchan MP, founding member and first Chairman of CPRE Oxfordshire.

In 2008 CPRE Oxfordshire launched Details to be confirmed, please a successful legal challenge to the contact administrator@cpreoxon. South East Plan and the prevention of org.uk to express your interest and receive an update nearer more than 4,000 homes being built in CURRENT IN 2021 the Oxford Green Belt, south of the the time. CPRE Oxfordshire continues to city in 2010. campaign against plans which would The Weston Otmoor Eco-town was cause damage to the countryside and proposed in 2008, a large new town Annual rural communities. A constant theme of 15,000 dwellings near Weston-on- is the destruction of the Oxford the-Green. CPRE Oxfordshire and General Green Belt which CPRE Oxfordshire The Weston Front waged a relentless continues to fight to protect for campaign and in 2009 the proposal Meeting future generations. With your help was dropped. The CPRE Oxfordshire Annual we hope to influence the outcome of Other successes included protecting General Meeting will take place the Oxfordshire 2050 plan, and the Lakes, safeguarding Warneford virtually via ZOOM on Saturday, OxCam Vision to ensure Oxfordshire Meadow and preventing development 19 June, from 10.30-11.30am. remains the most rural county in the of Shipton-on-Cherwell quarry, to the To register your interest please South East. north of Kidlington. email administrator@cpreoxon. org.uk by Monday 7 June. Please join us for a roundup of our activities past and future, hope to see you there!

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 5 Planning updates

Oxford to Cambridge Expressway – Cancelled! The controversial road planned to link Oxford to Cambridge was scrapped by the Department of Transport in March. The result of much hard work and campaigning by many organisations and individuals, including CPRE and the No Expressway Group, but also many others.

For CPRE Oxfordshire this was tremendous news. Helen Marshall, Director of CPRE Oxfordshire said: “We are delighted the Government has listened to the concerns of campaigners and residents. Rest assured we shall be keeping an eye on any ‘targeted, localised road improvements’ planned for own Local Plans, including the joint As a result of the current Oxfordshire Oxfordshire!” Oxfordshire 2050 Plan, and is likely to Housing & Growth Deal, the county dictate future growth targets. is already delivering housing well The Expressway was paused in above and beyond anticipated need. March 2020, but it took a further The Government has also announced We need to make sure that this is year for the Government to cancel it that it will create an Arc-wide taken into account when looking officially on the grounds that it would Growth Body, to drive and support ahead, not used to extrapolate those not be cost effective. economic growth, but there is no exaggerated figures going forward. similar commitment to environmental The Department for Transport investment. Instead, there is an We also need to make sure that has said it will now look at more apparent desire to improve the Oxfordshire’s rural character is at targeted road interventions to environment in certain areas at the heart of decision-making. For improve transport links and help the expense of other, equally example, villages thrive on organic create jobs across the Oxford- important areas of countryside. growth, not vast housing estates Cambridge region. CPRE Oxfordshire would like to see dumped on the outskirts. a commitment to protect designated This was a hugely damaging and and wider, both undesignated costly project, that was completely countryside. Take Action inappropriate in a climate emergency This is our best, and possibly only, and likely unnecessary in a post- A draft Vision Statement is opportunity to influence development Covid world. planned to be published for public in Oxfordshire over the next 30 years consultation in summer 2021, with – don’t miss it! Waiting until actual Thank you to all those who raised two further consultations in 2022. planning applications come forward their voices on this issue – together, is too late – we will really need we have made a difference! Oxfordshire 2050 – don’t your help engaging now as policy miss the chance to have is formed, so that we can give our OxCam Arc – Spatial your say! countryside the best chance for the Framework Announced. Consultation on Spatial Growth future. In February, Government announced Options is planned for summer 2021. an Arc-wide plan, or spatial This round of consultation on the Please – have your keyboards and framework. Unlike Local Plans, it Oxfordshire 2050 Plan promises pens at the ready to have your say. appears the Framework will not be finally to set out a range of growth subject to independent examination options for the county. We want to Keep an eye on our website, social and scrutiny. However, it will have make sure those options reflect media and e-newsletter (subscribe the status of national planning the views and needs of the people at tinyurl.com/ktrxufcw) for details, policy, which local authorities will of Oxfordshire, not Government- including a quick guide on how to have to follow when preparing their dictated targets. respond.

6 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Spring 2021 Footpath success at

CPRE Oxfordshire’s Better Vision Great Western Park for Oxfordshire can be downloaded Over the years pressure for housing development in South Oxfordshire has from our website here: been gradually mounting but it would be wrong to think it is something new. tinyurl.com/2fudw6f5 In 2002 residents on the western side of Didcot were shocked when South Oxfordshire District Council received an outline application for a massive, Planning Reform proposed development on the sloping ground on the western edge of the town After a massive public outcry, led with wide views towards the Downs and Cotswolds. This had been given the by CPRE and its supporters, the name Great Western Park and residents had been walking there since post-war Government radically altered its housing developments had taken place 50 years earlier. algorithm for calculating housing numbers to direct more development Early in 2003 a local resident approached CPRE Oxfordshire, and we began towards urban, brownfield areas. to identify which unofficial footpaths existed in and around the proposed However, the Planning White Paper development site and drew up a map showing these paths. Local walkers were set out broader potential changes asked to give details of which paths they had used and over what periods. 80 evidence forms were completed, covering various periods and various paths, to the planning system that would and we had sufficient evidence to submit a definitive map modification order dramatically reduce local democratic application for an additional 14 footpaths to Oxfordshire County Council on 25 input. National CPRE joined with 18 April 2003. other organisations in publishing a vision for the planning system The developers made an undertaking to the County Council to dedicate all the that puts local people and the claimed paths as public rights of way and seek to divert those which interfered environment at its heart with the development. The development was able to proceed, and regular tinyurl.com/579u876w meetings took place between the developers, the County Council and CPRE Oxfordshire to negotiate how to integrate the claimed and previously existing The Government is now reviewing paths into the development. the consultation responses and we expect to hear about next steps Building delays meant that much of the area south of the B4493 (Wantage over the summer. Thank you if Road) still had not been developed by 2017. The County Council decided to you responded to either of these determine the modification order application for the paths which had not yet consultations – your contribution been dedicated, including sections of the claimed paths which were outside the helped influence Government! Great Western Park site. The evidence provided back in 2003 was found to be sufficient and, in 2020, 17 additional paths were added to the Definitive Map. The paths are regularly inspected to ensure any obstructions, such as building site Transport security fences, are reported to the County Council and subsequently removed. England’s Economic Heartland published its Transport Strategy The Great Western Park path claims took over 17 years to complete and may not for the region: Connecting People, be fully open for at least another year. Sadly, most of the fine views available in Transforming Journeys. The plan 2003 have been lost but the development is now more walker-friendly than it covers the OxCam Arc area and might otherwise have been and some of the paths won on the outer edge of the stretches beyond to Swindon. CPRE development remain an attractive asset. Oxfordshire welcomes commitments to low carbon transport, reducing Nick Moon the need to travel and rural mobility Honorary Consultant – Rights of Way hubs.

The Vision for the Oxfordshire Local Transport & Connectivity Plan 5 Sustainable Water Survey (LTCP5) was published in February. CPRE Oxfordshire is campaigning for the water-related impacts of new CPRE Oxfordshire supports a net- development to be properly considered, and an end to the practice of zero Oxfordshire Transport system discharging untreated sewage into our rivers. Many Oxfordshire parishes but is keen to see a dedicated are struggling with issues including flooding and water pollution, but no-one section pulling together the seems to have a complete picture of the problems. We have contacted all strategy for improving transport and Oxfordshire Parish Councils, asking them to complete a survey, to help us connectivity in rural areas, including map out the issues and plan our campaign strategy. market towns. If you are concerned about sewage, flooding and sustainable water management in relation to Planning Applications take a look at CPRE Oxfordshire’s Drainage Technical Bulletin on our website: tinyurl.com/4c4d5yc

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 7 Cherwell Development Watch Alliance: fighting to protect Oxford’s Green Belt

Oxford Green Belt Under Threat in Cherwell/Caroline Johnson

Cherwell Development Watch Alliance has to be based on points of law. in our endeavours to be heard. It (CDWA) was inaugurated in 2018 to Fortunately we were able to draw is a poor reflection on the planning co-ordinate its Member Associations: on our previous work and many system that local residents have the Begbroke & Yarnton Green Belt written submissions, to identify what effectively had to pay in order to be Campaign; the Harbord Road Area we believe to be errors in law and listened to. Residents` Association; Kidlington therefore to raise a legal challenge. Development Watch; GreenWayOxon The grounds for the challenge are: I would like to extend my gratitude (golf course members); and the The claimed level of housing need to the CDWA Committee members Woodstock Action Group. and re-provision of the North Oxford who have worked so hard and made Golf Course. personal sacrifices over the past few Our primary objective was to years in order for us to get to this oppose Cherwell District Council’s CDWA’s Member Associations had point. Local Plan Partial Review (CLPPR) already been generous in their which proposed the building of a financial support and funds raised CDWA is also very grateful to all minimum of 4,400 houses on Green had been used to commission high its supporters and would like to Belt land to the north of Oxford. We level legal advice and expert reports acknowledge and thank them for hoped that our full engagement in during the local plan process. A legal their generosity without which this the local plan process would result challenge meant going back to those legal challenge would not have in our views, and thus those of our same generous supporters and been possible. Sincere thanks members being heard. However asking for further funding with a total also go to: CPRE Oxfordshire; our this was not the case! We found the of around £55,000 being required many generous supporters who consultation process to be a ‘box- to cover the legal fees. This was a are local residents of affected ticking’ exercise with unprecedented daunting prospect but we embarked Parishes; everyone who responded local opposition to the plans being on it and our loyal supporters rose to our fund raising initiatives; Parish ignored. The Examination in Public to the challenge. and Town Councils (Kidlington was similarly disappointing, as were PC; Gosford & Water Eaton PC; our attempts to get Robert Jenrick, The encouraging news is that, at Woodstock TC; Yarnton PC; the Secretary of State for Housing, the time of writing, the Honourable Begbroke PC and PC); to intervene. Mrs Justice Lang DBE has recently Gresswell Environment Trust; and said that CDWA ‘has presented the Oxford Green Belt Network. We Fast forward to September 2020 and arguable grounds which require are particularly grateful to all at CPRE the CLPPR was adopted by Cherwell full consideration’. A date for the Oxfordshire for their generosity, District Council meaning that CDWA hearing in the High Court of Justice ongoing support and administrative was faced with the difficult decision (Planning Division) has been set for assistance. of whether to raise a legal challenge 23 & 24 June. Whilst success is by no against the plan. It is not generally means guaranteed we will be able to Suzanne McIvor, understood but such a challenge say that no stone was left unturned Chair, CDWA

8 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Spring 2021 Over 19,000 houses planned for the Oxford Green Belt

WEST Key to sites in the Oxford Green A4260 OXFORDSHIRE A34 CHERWELL Belt with the number of houses Kidlington DISTRICT DISTRICT Vale of White Horse 1,950 houses 430 houses 670 houses GREEN BELT 1 North West of Abingdon – 200 540 houses 2 North of Abingdon – 800 A4095 18 16 3 South of Kennington – 270 19 17 690 houses 4 North West of Radley – 240 120 houses 15 5 Dalton Barracks – 1,200 125 houses 14 110 houses Oxford City 11 122 houses 7 6 Marston Paddock – 39 A40 39 houses 8 1,100 houses 7 St Frideswide Farm – 125 75 houses 6 8 Hill View Farm – 110 9 31 houses 24 9 Land West of Mill Lane – 75 10 10 Park Farm – 60 300 houses 11 Pear Tree Farm – 122 13 60 houses 25 12 Land East of Redbridge Park & Ride – 162 OXFORD 13 St Catherine’s College Land – 31 CITY 162 houses Cherwell Botley 14 Land East of Oxford Road (North Oxford) – 690 1,800 houses 12 15 Land West of Oxford Road (North Oxford) – 670 A40 23 16 Land South East of Kidlington – 430 17 Land at Stratfield Farm (Kidlington) – 120 Kennington 18 Land East of the A44 (Begbroke) – 1,950 A415 22 A329 19 Land West of Yarnton – 540 800 houses South Oxfordshire 3,000 houses 20 Land Adjacent to Science Centre – 3,500 200 houses 3 SOUTH 21 Land at Berinsfield – 1,700 1,200 houses 2 1 270 houses OXFORDSHIRE 22 Land South of Grenoble Road – 3,000 23 Land at Northfield - 1,800 A420 5 DISTRICT 4 24 Land North of Bayswater – 1,100 Abingdon 25 Land at Wheatley Campus – 300 240 houses Berinsfield VALE OF WHITE Total: 19,234 houses HORSE 21 20 DISTRICT 1,700 houses 3,500 houses A338 A4074 A34 Map: CPRE Oxon February 2021

Wallingford National CPRE’s annual State of the Didcot Green Belt report has found that Oxford Green Belt plans for housing on Green Belt land have quadrupled in the past eight years. development plans

There are currently 0.25 million The Oxford Green Belt faces multiple large-scale incursions: (257,944) homes proposed to be built on land removed from the • Vale of White Horse – 2,710 houses across 5 sites Green Belt – over four times as many (475% increase) as in 2013. • Oxford City – 724 houses across 8 sites Only one in 10 of these houses is defined as ‘affordable’. • Cherwell – 4,400 houses across 6 sites • South Oxfordshire – 11,400 houses across 6 sites A poll, conducted by Opinium on behalf of CPRE, shows a surge in This totals almost 20,000 new houses supposedly to meet Oxford’s need appreciation for local green spaces but in fact equivalent to a new development one third of the existing size of since the first lockdown, many of which are located in our Green Oxford. Belts. It found that: There is no doubt many Green Belts all over England, like ours, are suffering • Over two thirds (67%) of adults death by degrees due to the ambivalence of Government policy on protecting think protecting and enhancing Green Belts intended to be permanent. green spaces should be a higher priority after lockdown; CPRE Oxfordshire believes that an urgent revision of National Planning Policy • Nearly half (46%) reported is now the only chance to save the Green Belt. Any revision must make it visiting green spaces more explicit that Councils must not just ‘examine’ all other alternative options to since the start of lockdown – a dramatic 11 percentage point building on Green Belt land and then do what they like, which is the present increase since April 2020; situation; Councils must be required to adopt one of the alternative options unless they can demonstrate that (a) the development is essential and (b) • 59% reported they are more aware of the importance of could not be accommodated anywhere else. these local green spaces for our mental health and wellbeing That is the clarification CPRE Oxfordshire is demanding from Government. since lockdown. Their response will tell us all we need to know about their actual commitment to protecting the Green Belt we all cherish.

Join the debate. Join the campaign. Join CPRE 9 We need a new, independent assessment of Oxfordshire’s future housing needs

economic and political factors and is clearly very uncertain going into the future. Interestingly a recent report by the research arm of the ONS has suggested there may have been an exodus of 1.3 million people from the UK in the last year. This is likely to be young people from Europe in the ‘gig’ economy returning home. This trend has yet to be confirmed in the official statistics.

It would be a brave person to predict what will happen to population growth in the coming decades. It is very likely that our ‘natural’ growth will remain low and We certainly live in uncertain times. were predicting a ‘COVID baby decrease further, in common with Who would have predicted the boom’ but this doesn’t seem to have most developed countries (and even events of the last 18 months? And materialised. If anything the birth rate developing countries have a rapidly what will be the impact on the has dropped with the increasing declining fertility rate). The flows of population of Oxfordshire? So I economic uncertainty. people between countries depend don’t envy the Office of National very much on their relative economic Statistics (ONS) which is tasked with Life expectancy was increasing performance so future immigration projecting population changes for through the 20th century but has will depend on how quickly different the next 25 years. These population flattened out in recent years. The countries come out of the current projections (and the household most recent projections show COVID induced recessions. For projections which use them) underlie the ‘natural’ (births minus deaths) the UK (and Oxfordshire) the the estimates of housing need and population growth reaching number of overseas students is a water supply and health facilities for essentially zero in the 2030s for the very significant factor, so whether the coming decades. UK, in Oxfordshire it goes negative students from populous countries, in 2032. One hundred thousand like India and China, will continue to The ONS makes its projections excess Covid deaths during 2020 be attracted to our universities will by extrapolating recent trends of is significant, there are typically just be influential. Equally whether the births, deaths and immigration into over 600,000 deaths per year in the trend to work at home, possibly in the future. One trend we can be UK. The increase in deaths effectively the Oxfordshire countryside rather confident of is our falling birth rate, reduces to zero the natural than commuting to London, will which has fallen from nearly three population growth in the UK for become a permanent feature is still births per female during the post 2020, however the long-term impact anyone’s guess. war baby boom to 1.66 in 2019, is unlikely to be large. mirroring a wider trend across The Oxfordshire 2050 vision Europe and rest of the world. As a The final component of these figures and the Local Plans all assume result the projections of population is net immigration into the UK. continuing high population growth and household growth have been This becomes progressively more through 2030s and 2040s, but will progressively downgraded in the important, as the natural growth falls, this happen? What is clear is that ONS releases from 2014 through to and it varies a lot. It was essentially Oxfordshire’s housing needs and 2018. So the 2014 based household zero during the 1980s and 1990s, Local Plans will need to be revised projections (released in 2016) for it rose to a peak of over 300,000 and it would seem foolish to commit Oxfordshire show a growth of per year in the 2000s and then has to major developments in these 59,000 households between 2020 reduced, to just over 250,000 per uncertain times. and 2036, whereas the 2018 based year, in the last few years. The ONS projections show only 39,000, a projections assume a continuing Richard Harding decrease of one third. At the start of net immigration of 190,000 persons Chairman the pandemic some commentators per year. Immigration depends on CPRE South Oxfordshire District

10 CPRE Oxfordshire voice Spring 2021 Company has applied to the High Court, West Oxfordshire challenging South Oxfordshire District Our Chairman John Histon informed the District Council, the Government and Christ committee in January that he felt obliged Church College Oxford. Bioabundance to resign through ill health and it was argue that the Council adopted the plan proposed Philippa Phelan take over as updates not because it was considered sound Chair (Elect) until the AGM when it can but in fear of the consequences of not be officially endorsed. The committee adopting it. Also insufficient attention expressed their regret and thanked Cherwell was given to the climate consequences John for all his excellent voluntary work For several years we have been of building far more houses than are over the years and he will continue as a contesting Cherwell District Council’s needed. This is the first time a Local valuable member for CPRE West Oxon. ambition to build 4,400 houses in the Plan has been challenged on grounds of Green Belt north of Oxford. Although climate change. Cleaner Rivers: there remains a the Inspector ruled in favour of the continuing push to reduce river Council’s scheme, a High Court ruling There is a proposal for a Regional pollution and flooding, also backed this week has given permission to the Nature Park to the East and North of by our local MP. A questionnaire has opposition, the Cherwell Development Oxford. The proposal is for the area been distributed to all Parish Councils Watch Alliance (which has been roughly bounded by the M40, A40 in our District to try to understand the supported actively and financially by and the Oxford-Bicester railway to be full picture of pollution and flooding CPRE), to launch a judicial review of the recognised as a Nature Park in the issues effecting so many. We hope to plan. This is excellent news. Oxfordshire 2050 Plan. While it is a get a good response which will give long shot that this area could become us a bank of data that will help our At Chesterton near Bicester CPRE a National Park, the campaign makes campaigning. played a prominent role some time ago a very positive case to nurture this in the defeat of a proposal by Great important area and it might well chime Witney Oxford Transport (WOT) Group: Wolf Resorts to build a theme park with the Government’s commitment to we continue to engage with WOT with a massive 500-bedroom hotel protect and improve 30% of UK land by over the proposed route for a light in the countryside. Unfortunately, the 2030. passenger railway from Oxford to American firm decided to appeal against Carterton and in principle support a the planning decision, and at the time Finally, the committee has been working feasibility study. We would hope that of writing we do not know what the on a crop of planning applications, any proposed route would have a inspector will decide. Once again CPRE including an increasing number of minimal impact on open countryside and has been active in the opposition, and holiday parks in the Chilterns. We held the Green Belt. both the Branch and the District have a successful virtual annual meeting in made substantial donations to dispute December and welcomed two new Cotswold Natural Landscape: we the developer’s exaggerated claims of committee members, Geoff Botting and have jointly endorsed Gloucestershire biodiversity gains. Stuart Silverman. CPRE’s response on the Cotswolds Natural Landscape for a landscape In December we took the lead in Richard Harding, Chairman led approach to planning within the opposing the construction of a large Cotswolds AONB. fuel dump at Hornton Grounds Quarry, Vale of White Horse which is in the middle of some of the After a period of dormancy, a meeting Other: applications to upgrade the road loveliest countryside in the district. The was held in November 2020 at which past the Rollright Stones continue and campaign received a good deal of local a new chairman was designated we remain against any degradation support, and we managed to defeat and confirmed at the District AGM in of this important archaeological and the application in planning committee February. We are also seeking a new Dark Skies site. Cotswolds Hotel & by a margin of 17 to 0 with a single Treasurer. This will bring the committee Spa has appealed WODC’s decision abstention. This week we heard that back up to strength so as to improve for 73 new holiday homes and our the fuel company (CERTAS) and the local our monitoring of developments and objection remains in place due to the owner of the quarry have ended their therefore our timely intervention where rural location and close proximity to the partnership, so there will be no appeal. considered appropriate. We supported SSSI Glyme Valley, a secluded valley and the Woolstone Parish Meeting in their rare remaining fragment of limestone David Gilmour, Chairman successful objection to the National grassland in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Trust’s proposal to site solar panels Finally, there has been some excellent South Oxfordshire at the bottom of White Horse Hill work undertaken by the Witney Active South Oxfordshire District Council’s – an AONB. The solar panels were Travel Group to improve cycle paths in Local Plan, with its excessive housing, subsequently re-sited. We are now Witney to provide a continuous east- was finally approved, under duress from actively monitoring the proposed Milton west route for cyclists and pedestrians the Secretary of State, for adoption at Hill re-development for warehousing, in the town. a Council meeting in mid-December. the proposed Chinese business school Unfortunately, we are already seeing at Boar’s Hill, the Abingdon cricket Philippa Phelan, Chair (Elect) developers pushing the envelope of the ground housing development, the Valley plan – by proposing additional houses, Park roundabout at Didcot, for which a During CPRE Oxfordshire’s for example at Bayswater Brook, and decision has just been deferred, and the a multi-storey car park at Culham. So new housing development at Kingston anniversary year why not show much for an adopted plan protecting Bagpuize has also just been refused your support and use the back against speculative development! planning permission. We will also be cover as a poster? Perhaps display supporting North Wessex Downs on on your village notice board? One group has decided to take the the Goring gap. Copies are also downloadable from Local Plan to Statutory Review. The our website. Bioabundance Community Interest Heneage Legge-Bourke, Chairman

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