There has been a falling-out between West Oxfordshire and Cherwell District Council over future housing needs.
Both councils, like many others across the country, are in the process of developing new Local Plans which, amongst other things, identify sites for meeting future housing needs. The boundary between the two council districts runs just to the east of Woodstock. The town is in West Oxfordshire district. In formulating its local plan Cherwell has proposed putting up 450 new homes on a site adjacent to Woodstock. West Oxfordshire is, to put it mildly, less than chuffed about this.
They are concerned about the impact on local roads, services, and potentially harmful impact on the setting of Blenheim Palace, which is a World Heritage site. Councillors believe that placing new housing in this location could create significant challenges for the town and surrounding area. As if that were not enough, the site has been previously considered by a government planning inspector who ruled that it was unsuitable for development so West Oxon is surprised that it has popped up again in Cherwell's planning process. West Oxon has therefore lodged an objection to the proposal.
Summoning his most diplomatic language, West Oxon's executive member for planning (and also Burford's district councillor) Hugo Ashton (pictured) said:
“We would like to thank Cherwell District Council for engaging with us on their proposals for their Local Plan and overall we think it is a sound plan.
“While we recognise the need for new homes, but [sic] they must be built in the right places and we do have significant concerns about the proposal for homes to be built on the edge of Woodstock.
“A Planning Inspector has previously ruled that this site is unsuitable, and we share that view. Any new development must respect the character of Woodstock, protect the setting of the Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site and ensure local services and infrastructure can cope.”
Sounds like pistols at dawn in the rose garden at Blenheim.
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