Today, NORA launches a petition calling for a fix to a flawed planning process: decisions are being made in silos, without a proper assessment of combined (cumulative) impacts of multiple developments.

As regular readers know, North Oxfordshire is being targeted by several large-scale developments being proposed all at the same time:

• Heyford Park (one of 12 designated New Towns)
• Hawkwell Village housing estate
• Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (OxSRFI)
• Puy du Fou mass tourist destination and
• four massive warehouses at Baynard’s Green, which are headed to appeal.

Together, these schemes will completely change our landscape and quality of life permanently. To illustrate the true impact of these proposals, NORA estimates that they will 

generate over 45 million vehicle movements annually and introduce 50,000 more people to an area of just a 4-mile radius

This tsunami in population and traffic will undeniably devastate the character of North Oxfordshire.

It’s not just a local issue

Oxfordshire’s planning authorities have to abide by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which doesn’t require them to take into account the cumulative impacts of proposed developments. The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) which looks at planning appeals and national infrastructure projects such as OxSRFI is equally bound by the NPPF.

In short, this is a local and a national issue that could affect regions across the UK, including those targeted for new towns.

What are we asking for?

This petition objects to an underfunded, flawed planning process that makes no provision for taking into account the combined impacts of proposed developments. There is no single body to oversee and evaluate these cumulative effects before decisions are made.

We ask for major multiple planning applications to be overseen by an independent Impact Board, bringing together representatives from local resident groups, developers, district and county councils, relevant central government bodies, the Planning Inspectorate, and our local MPs.

NORA is calling for:

1. an unbiased, correctly funded, independent, transparent cumulative impact study overseen by our proposed Impact Board covering multiple schemes together, and
2. a pause on further related planning application approvals while that assessment is completed.

Sign and share

Please sign the petition and help bring about positive change for North Oxfordshire. Please also share this petition far and wide – our future generations will thank you!

Click on the image below to be taken to the petition: