PARISH PLAN PROGRESS REPORTS

The parish of Sandford on Thames currently enjoys a rural setting within the Oxford Green Belt, thus any major housing development in the village is currently quite restricted under the current regulations.
However, any new housing development in and around the village will be greatly influenced by two different, but linked, consultations currently recently undertaken on (amongst many other things) house building. Firstly by the County Council who have now completed their structure plan review, and secondly by the new South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), who after wide consultation have now submitted their resulting plan to the government.

The final version of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan was adopted by the County Council in October 2005 County Structure Plan, which initially included a major development on green belt land within our parish of Sandford. At the consultation stage, a last minute inclusion to the final county structure plan, was removed after overwhelming opposition to the proposals.
In the subsequent 'Examination In Public' the appeal against the removal of the green belt development, was deemed to be unfounded and it was recommended that this development should not be included.
In the final stage of the Structure Plan, the County Executive Committee have agreed to accept the EIP recommendations (May 2005), and removed references to new housing development the Green Belt. The outcome thus set the expected level of housing development in the County for the next 10 years.
Further info on the County Structure Plan can be found on the County Council web site, however further developments are taking over...

The new SEERA organisation was due to take the old County structure planning, and replace it with their new 'regional' development plans, covering the whole of the south east. After much debate on the exact level of housing needed, it seems that SEERA will want to build more housing than is currently in the new County Structure Plan. This will again renew pressure on the green belt, and as SEERA work to very different criteria, and are subject to government approval, the outcome is very uncertain.
Consultations on the first draft of their plan were completed, and the results considered by the committee in June 2005 and the final South East Plan was submitted to Government in Spring 2006. In July - October 2008 the Government had a public consultation on its own proposed changes to the SEERA plan, (which increased housing numbers further) and the finally approved plan is expected to be released in early 2009.
The final SE Plan, is expected to contain changes to the local green belt, despite much opposition, it seems the government will over-rule the parish, local district and county councils. The local Oxford Green Belt Network has more details.

However small scale development of existing building land in the village is still possible, and any new planning applications will continue to be examined by the Parish Council. Recommendations will be made accordingly, within the limited influence that the Parish Council has.

Currently a local needs survey within the South Oxfordshire District is conducted independently by the Oxfordshire Rural Distinct Council (ORCC). The Appraisal Group have spoken to the 'Rural Housing' section of the ORCC, and they are willing to consult with the Parish Council and explain the various types of housing needs and schemes for affordable housing available.

Currently the Parish Council feel the outcome of the County Structure Plan & the South East Plan, and its possible impact on the village & green belt, needs to be clear, before undertaking such a survey.

The current situation with the housing situation will continue to be monitored along with the possibility of a shop, as agreed above.
See also the report on a village shop.

Other Progress Reports