Oxfordshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

Oxford City

The City Council has identified 5.49 years supply for the period from 2022/23 to 2026/27 (Annual Monitoring Report, December 2023). This will be subject to review at the forthcoming Local Plan Examination in 2024.

Cherwell District

The District Council has identified 5.5 years housing supply, excluding the partial review area for the period from 2023 to 2028. The authority cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply for the Local Plan Partial review to address the district’s contribution to Oxford’s unmet housing needs. (Annual Monitoring Report, December 2023). Despite the District Council’s published position, an appeal decision dated 5th March 2024 relating to development at Heyford Park concluded that there is less than 4 years housing land supply (APP/C3105/W/23/3326761).

South Oxfordshire District

The District Council has identified 4.2 years supply for the period from April 2023 and March 2028 (Housing Supply Statement, September 2023). However, an appeal decision dated 14th November 2023 in relation to Land West of Thame Road, Chinnor, established a lower supply of 3.49 years (APP/Q3115/W/23/3323268).

Vale of White Horse District

The District Council has identified 6.56 years supply for the period from 2023 to 2028 (Housing Land Supply Statement, December 2023). An appeal decision dated 6th December 2023 in relation to development in Sutton Courtenay concluded that the authority has more than 5 years supply, established to be in the region of 6.29 years (APP/V3120/W/23/3322187).

West Oxfordshire District

The District Council has identified 5.46 years supply for the period from April 2023 to March 2028 (Housing Land Supply Position Statement, October 2023). However, an appeal decision dated 28th March 2024 relating to development in Minster Lovell concluded that there is a lower supply of 4.38 years (APP/D3125/W/23/3331279).

These figures demonstrate the relative limitations on housing supply across the county, with Cherwell, South Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire districts failing to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.