Vale of White Horse District Council has published part 2 of its Local Plan and invited residents to read it and send their comments in before 22 November.
The comments will then be submitted along with the Plan to the Secretary of State in the New Year. It will then be examined by a planning inspector later next year.
The council adopted part one of the Plan in 2016, which deals with the main strategic housing sites for the district, and identifies the main infrastructure that would be needed to support the new communities. Part 2 deals with more detailed policies the council will use to decide planning applications over the life of the Plan.
Part 2 also includes some housing sites the council has allocated to help deal with the city council’s inability to meet its need for houses.
During the development of both parts of the Plan, the council has received thousands of comments from residents and organisations, which have helped shaped the Plan. Anybody who wants to have their comments submitted to the Secretary of State, should comment at this stage, even if they have done so previously.
This is a more technical stage of the process and the planning inspector will give more weight to comments based on the technical “soundness” of the Plan – the council has created a short video and a guidance note to explain what this means, to help residents provide effective comments.
The Plan, video, guidance note and details on how to comment are available at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/LPP2
Cllr Roger Cox, cabinet member for Planning at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We are very grateful for the comments we have had so far, which have helped us shape the Plan. This is now the final chance to have your say on part 2 of our Local Plan and I’d strongly encourage anybody who wants the planning inspector to read their comments to do so now.”
The council is inviting residents to come along and find out more about the Plan at a series of drop-in events and public meetings throughout October and November at the following locations:
Exhibitions from 4 to 6.30pm followed by public meetings from 7 to 8.30pm
- Monday 6 November: Abingdon and Witney College, Abingdon Campus, Wootton Road, Abingdon, OX14 1GG
- Tuesday 14 November: Corn Exchange, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, SN7 7JA
- Wednesday 15 November: Harwell Village Hall, High Street, Harwell, OX11 0EX