Local Plan 2041 - preparation of a new plan
To make sure that our planning policies and proposals are up to date and effectively tackle vital issues such as climate change, health and wellbeing, housing and the economy, we are preparing a new Local Plan covering the period up to 2041.
Local Plan Preferred Policy Options Consultation
West Oxfordshire District Council are currently consulting on the preferred policy options for the Local Plan.
Take part in the consultation here
WODC Local Plan - Preferred Policy Options consultation paper - June 2025 - pdf - 2.37 Mb
This consultation represents an important milestone in the plan making process, as it outlines the Council’s current thinking on the plan’s overall structure and direction, with a series of preferred policy approaches, to address the many challenges and opportunities facing the district in years to come.
Further information on how to engage in the consultation and to comment on the preferred policy options can be found via our consultation portal.
Sign up to the Local Plan databaseProgress to date
So far, we have carried out two key phases of public consultation as detailed below;
Initial scoping consultation (August – October 2022)
The first step was an initial ‘scoping’ consultation which we ran from 24 August – 5 October 2022 to seek early views on what main topics the new Local Plan should cover.
A copy of the consultation document is available to download below.
The consultation was very successful with over 5,000 visitors to our website, 441 respondents and 1,143 contributions being made.
The report below provides a summary overview of the responses received and the main issues raised by respondents.
Focused consultation on ideas and objectives (August – October 2023)
Building on the feedback received to our initial consultation last year, we ran an 8-week focused consultation from 30 August – 25 October 2023 based around 3 particular elements:
Draft local plan objectives – a series of draft objectives which are intended to guide the future evolution of the plan in terms of its overall approach and anticipated policy content;
The future pattern of development in West Oxfordshire – different scenarios for how and where we might look to focus future growth in the period up to 2041;
Call for sites, ideas and opportunities – an open invitation for stakeholders to put forward their thoughts on how land in the district might be used in the future such as new housing, employment, infrastructure, community use, green space, nature recovery and renewable energy.
For ease of reference, a copy of the focused consultation document is available to download in PDF format below.
We received a good level of response to the consultation with around 2,000 comments from 450 individuals and organisations.
The report below provides a summary overview of the responses received and the main issues raised by respondents.
Supporting evidence
To help shape the new Local Plan we will draw on existing evidence and commission new studies as appropriate. The list of documents below will be added to as new evidence becomes available.
Habitat Regulations Assessment – In Progress
Local Housing Needs Assessment – In Progress
Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) – In Progress
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment – In Progress
Viability Assessment – In Progress
Economic Needs Assessment – In Progress
Infrastructure Delivery Plan – In Progress
Health and Equality Impact Assessment – In Progress
Settlement Sustainability Report – In Progress
Carterton Strategic Study – In Progress
What happens next?
The Preferred Policy Options consultation will run for a period of 6 weeks until 8 August 2025.
Following consultation, responses will be processed and analysed to understand how these should inform the preparation of the Draft Local Plan, including how policies should be revised and whether additional evidence is required to support the planned approach.
The council intend to consult on Preferred Spatial Options for the Local Plan, a date for which is yet to be determined, but likely to be autumn 2025. Further information will be published on this in due course.