RESIDENTS in West Oxfordshire can now have their say on a key planning document which will see thousands of additional homes built in the district over the next 15 years.

Proposed changes to the draft Local Plan are now the subject of a six-week public consultation which began last Friday.

An initial plan was rejected last year after an inspector said not enough homes were included. The new plan, approved by councillors on October 26, proposes an extra 5,000 in Witney, Eynsham, Chipping Norton and Woodstock, bringing the total to be built over the next 15 years to 16,000.

Councillor Jeff Haine, cabinet member for strategic planning and economy, said: “This draft Local Plan is highly significant as it will play a key role in the future development of West Oxfordshire.

“As a result, we welcome any views submitted by residents and businesses as they will help influence the final version.”

Key sites include 2,200 homes at the proposed Garden Village to the north of Eynsham along with an urban extension to the west of the village which will add a further 1,000 new homes.

The developments in Eynsham will account for the 2,750 homes that have been allocated as the district’s contribution to Oxford’s unmet housing need.

Other major sites include increasing the number of homes proposed for North Witney from 1,000 to 1,400. 670 homes have been added to Woodstock, and the amount of allocated homes for the Tank Farm development area in Chipping Norton has risen from 600 to 1,400 homes.

The proposed changes to the draft Local Plan were made following concerns raised by the Planning Inspector in January that the earlier draft did not take into account the housing need identified for Oxford.

A public exhibition on the plans is being held tomorrow at Witney Corn Exchange from 2.30 to 8pm. The plans can also be viewed at Chipping Norton Town Hall on November 23 from 2.30 to 8pm.

Exhibitions will then be held in Carterton Town Hall on November 29 from 2.30 to 8pm; in St Leonard’s Church Hall, Eynsham, on December 12 from 2.30 to 8pm; and in Woodstock Community Centre on December 14 from 2.30 to 8pm.

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation can obtain a form online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/localplan2031 or call the planning policy team on 01993 861667.