E.I.P. into the Draft South East Plan Reading 28 February 2007

SPADE along with many others who have a vested interest in the outcome of this enquiry made its submissions to the panel in the preceding weeks as was required by the procedures.
Everyone’s submission was available to the other participants before the enquiry and it was to be taken by the enquiry panel that everyone was familiar with each others content. Consequently there was no need for participants to argue their case afresh at the meeting.

SPADES submission can be found here

Throughout the run up to the enquiry SPADE has retained close links with the Oxford Green Belt Network, an organisation whose aims and objectives are aligned with ours, the protection of the Green Belt around Oxford,
Despite SPADE’s submission, along with many others we were not invited to participate in the EI P. O.G.B.N. were invited and it was decided that in the circumstances we support them and consequently SPADES’ views could be voiced by them at the meeting as was appropriate.

Feedback from the meeting would indicate that discussion was far and wide but the key points which appear to have emerged were

1: There still does not appear to be a agreement on the housing numbers and the Inspector has indicated that the panel will come back to this key issue at the end of the enquiry.
2: On affordable housing then the developers are saying quite clearly the 50% target is not realistic and are fighting shy of this imposition. It would appear that none were prepared to offer alternative suggestions and so it will be interesting to see how this one is overcome.
3: The City and Savilles put the usual reasons for the expansion of Oxford forward and although the Inspector would not allow discussion of specific sites, it was clear that they were referring to the Grenoble Road area and the Science Park.
4: Much discussion focused on the county towns plan, particularly Grove and Wantage, and the constraints to development there. Some suggestions were made that Witney ought to figure more prominently in the plan.
5: During all of these proceedings no direct discussion appears to have focused around a strategic review of the Green Belt. A view may be that if it is concluded that the current plan under discussion (which supports the existing Green Belt) is proved to be robust then there is no case in itself for a strategic review.
6: There were no references at all to Sunningwell or satellite townships.

Overall conclusions of the day were that all of those in support of the existing Green Belt. including South Oxford DC and the Vale had had a fair opportunity to express their views and had been well listened to. However there is still a long way to go as the initial outcomes of the enquiry will not to be published until much later this year.