West Oxfordshire District Council approves plan to build 1,000 homes in west Witney

3:34pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Tom Jennings, covering Witney and West Oxfordshire. Call me on 01865 425403

COUNCILLORS have granted permission in principle for 1,000 homes west of Witney.

West Oxfordshire District Council's lowlands area planning subcommittee has agreed the application this afternoon.

The plan will bring with it a new junction on the A40 at Downs Road, at least 30 per cent affordable housing, a new primary school and space - if needed - for a new secondary school.

It will also provide £100,000 developer funding towards reopening the Corn Exchange and £250,000 towards revamping facilities at West Witney Sports Ground.

 

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Comments (10)

6:24pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

Now.

How about a light-rail link to Oxford?
Now. How about a light-rail link to Oxford? Andrew:Oxford

6:54pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Patrick in Devon says...

An extra 1000 or so cars on the A40 will not be a pretty sight. A rail link is needed, but why not standard heavy rail - extend some Oxford terminating services? Then theres Carterton - how many thousand more there?
An extra 1000 or so cars on the A40 will not be a pretty sight. A rail link is needed, but why not standard heavy rail - extend some Oxford terminating services? Then theres Carterton - how many thousand more there? Patrick in Devon

11:01pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Dreaming Spires says...

West Oxfordshire District Council approves plan to build 1,000 HOUSES in west Witney.
West Oxfordshire District Council approves plan to build 1,000 HOUSES in west Witney. Dreaming Spires

11:02pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Phian says...

where would this rail line be laid ?
I have heard it suggested that a line could run beside the A40 but where would it terminate at each end, who owns the land and how much would it cost ?
where would this rail line be laid ? I have heard it suggested that a line could run beside the A40 but where would it terminate at each end, who owns the land and how much would it cost ? Phian

8:31am Tue 19 Mar 13

PDplum says...

Nimby backlash in 5,4,3,2,1...
Nimby backlash in 5,4,3,2,1... PDplum

8:48am Tue 19 Mar 13

Kirst1712 says...

Wonder if the tennis courts will finally be resurfaced, only 7 years late!
Wonder if the tennis courts will finally be resurfaced, only 7 years late! Kirst1712

9:25am Tue 19 Mar 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

Phian wrote:
where would this rail line be laid ?
I have heard it suggested that a line could run beside the A40 but where would it terminate at each end, who owns the land and how much would it cost ?
There was a line in the olden days, some of the former trackbed is built over.

In other European countries, such as Scotland, reopening of railway lines is quite common. The Alloa line, Airdrie-Bathgate and now the Borders route.

Even in England HS1 was opened between London and the channel tunnel.

Essentially if you can identify a 4 metre strip of land, then a single track railway can be built.

I'd say the terminuses should be Carterton and the Oxford Business Park via Oxford Railway Station.

You are right to query how much it would cost though. I mean, would the people of Witney & Carterton really be prepared to give up sitting in their on the A40 in return for a 15 minute journey into central Oxford?
[quote][p][bold]Phian[/bold] wrote: where would this rail line be laid ? I have heard it suggested that a line could run beside the A40 but where would it terminate at each end, who owns the land and how much would it cost ?[/p][/quote]There was a line in the olden days, some of the former trackbed is built over. In other European countries, such as Scotland, reopening of railway lines is quite common. The Alloa line, Airdrie-Bathgate and now the Borders route. Even in England HS1 was opened between London and the channel tunnel. Essentially if you can identify a 4 metre strip of land, then a single track railway can be built. I'd say the terminuses should be Carterton and the Oxford Business Park via Oxford Railway Station. You are right to query how much it would cost though. I mean, would the people of Witney & Carterton really be prepared to give up sitting in their on the A40 in return for a 15 minute journey into central Oxford? Andrew:Oxford

10:45am Tue 19 Mar 13

amber leaf says...

there is no chance their a rail line between carterton - witney- oxford it would cost millions to install !!! come on now people wake up u all know full well this not going to happen ........
there is no chance their a rail line between carterton - witney- oxford it would cost millions to install !!! come on now people wake up u all know full well this not going to happen ........ amber leaf

11:03am Tue 19 Mar 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

amber leaf wrote:
there is no chance their a rail line between carterton - witney- oxford it would cost millions to install !!! come on now people wake up u all know full well this not going to happen ........
Is "millions" really such a lot of money?

If you think about it, if on average each space in the Westgate carpark in Oxford is occupied for just 4 hours a day that's £6M a year in revenue...

Weak hand-wringing anxieties over car use and congestion doesn't solve the problem of getting 2000 people to work. Even if they all used the bus, that's an additional 33 double deckers going across the Swinford toll bridge during the morning and evening peak just to accommodate them.
[quote][p][bold]amber leaf[/bold] wrote: there is no chance their a rail line between carterton - witney- oxford it would cost millions to install !!! come on now people wake up u all know full well this not going to happen ........[/p][/quote]Is "millions" really such a lot of money? If you think about it, if on average each space in the Westgate carpark in Oxford is occupied for just 4 hours a day that's £6M a year in revenue... Weak hand-wringing anxieties over car use and congestion doesn't solve the problem of getting 2000 people to work. Even if they all used the bus, that's an additional 33 double deckers going across the Swinford toll bridge during the morning and evening peak just to accommodate them. Andrew:Oxford

5:55pm Tue 19 Mar 13

xjohnx says...

Thankn heavens! We need the housing urgently. Give us a few thousand more and first timers might begin be able to afford them again.
Thankn heavens! We need the housing urgently. Give us a few thousand more and first timers might begin be able to afford them again. xjohnx

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