Demand a new Local Plan that is fit for our future!
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Oxford needs a better plan ...
Oxford City Council are writing a new development plan for the city: Oxford Local Plan 2045
Oxford City Council are writing a new development plan for the city: Oxford Local Plan 2045
The focus of this plan, driven by the ambitions of Oxford University and Colleges and National Government is for unprecedented growth in and around the city - mostly for new tech jobs - as set out by the Oxford Growth Commission.
The focus of this plan, driven by the ambitions of Oxford University and Colleges and National Government is for unprecedented growth in and around the city - mostly for new tech jobs - as set out by the Oxford Growth Commission.
This threatens to 'Strangle the city' (see the report here by the voluntary thinktank POETS) by worsening the city's current problems:
This threatens to 'Strangle the city' (see the report here by the voluntary thinktank POETS) by worsening the city's current problems:
chronic lack of affordable housing
prioritising tech jobs in a city with full employment
congestion
air and river pollution
flooding
loss of green space
a huge carbon footprint which would prevent us reaching our zero carbon target
The new plan ignores residents' concerns and needs and fails to future-proof the city
How to respond (coming soon!) for a new Local Plan that is fit for our future!
Current campaigns
Current campaigns
Previous Campaigns
Disused overflow car park by Kassam Stadium which should be regenerated for affordable housing
Oxford’s City Council is:
Oxford’s City Council is:
Pitting the need for affordable homes against the need for green spaces
There is room for both homes AND green spaces.. All over the city, meadows and woodland, sports pitches and playgrounds are being sacrificed for housing. This is regardless of the needs of local people or the role of these spaces for nature, flood protection, biodiversity and wildlife corridors. This is an unnecessary and catastrophic sacrifice, as there is plenty of room in Oxford for the truly and permanently affordable housing residents need.
Driving up demand by making Oxford a ‘Fast Growth City’
Oxford is an ideal size for a sense of wellbeing and identity. However, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership (formerly the Oxfordshire Growth Board) is driving unsustainable increases in business and population for Oxford, in line with Swindon, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. The plan is to increase Oxford's population by 30% and use land in the city for thousands of tech jobs. Further development on this scale worsens Oxford's housing crisis, current infrastructure and ecological problems and reduces our resilience to the nature and climate emergencies.
Holding back 430 acres of land reserved exclusively for business
There are high vacancy rates in Oxford’s business parks (Cowley and Botley Roads, Oxford Business Park, Unipart and Mini plant) and redundant retail and office space in the city. These sites would be ideal for regeneration for affordable homes and new green spaces. But the Council and University want to use this space for new hotels and new business/tech spin out companies when Oxford already has 99% full employment. Creating many more jobs drives up demand for housing and increases house prices even further making it one of the least affordable cities in the UK.
Oxford can build affordable houses AND keep its precious green spaces!
The ancient meadows, the Horse Fields in Iffley Village, are is under threat from plans for 30 houses
Over 60 000 people have signed a petition to stop this insane plan.
Instead these meadows would make a wonderful community resource for education and wellbeing and boost the natural world on which we all depend
We need our green spaces: for our mental health, for exercise, for nature, and to protect us the extreme weather of climate change.
We need our green spaces: for our mental health, for exercise, for nature, and to protect us the extreme weather of climate change.
Meadows and hedgerows, playgrounds and sports pitches are being concreted over.
We are on Code Red for humanity and there is no time for delay.
Oxford City Council CAN provide the truly affordable homes residents need on an increasing supply of already used land and buildings, without destroying the green lungs of our city.
We call on Oxford City Council to:
We call on Oxford City Council to:
Rewrite the 2040 Local Plan so harmful to our city.
Protect our precious green spaces
Release land reserved for new business and prioritise the housing of Oxford residents first
Provide truly affordable homes by re-purposing already developed land and buildings for housing at social rents, using a land trust model that is not subject to right to buy.
Change the goal from unsustainable growth to thriving in balance
Work with local people to create a sustainable plan for our city!
All photos and illustrations copyright OnlyOneOxford 2022 unless otherwise stated
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