Views taken over Oxford sites set for development

Consultation events will be held to discuss issues such as keyworker housing and where student accommodation should be built, the city council has announced.

The public will also be able to quiz planning officers about proposals for individual sites, such as the controversial idea of closing the greyhound stadium in Sandy Lane, between Blackbird Leys and Cowley, to make way for housing.

Two sites around Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium could also be used for housing under the council proposals set out in the Sites and Housing Development Plan Document Preferred Options document.

Development is also proposed at a number of sports grounds across the city, including Lincoln College sports ground, off Cowley Road, and the OUP sports ground, near the North Oxford golf course.

Fifty of the sites shortlisted by the council have housing as a requirement, amounting to 2,000 homes.

Colin Cook, the council’s executive member for city development, said: “We want to hear from people about their thoughts on this document as it covers such a wide area – both planning policies and sites.

“We had a good response last year when we first consulted on this and we are looking for people’s views again. There will be sessions for people to discuss their thoughts with planning officers.”

The East Oxford session will be at East Oxford School, in Union Street, on Monday, June 27, at 6pm.

The North East consultation event is on Tuesday, July 5, at New Marston Primary School at 6pm.

The Cowley event will be on Thursday, July 14, at a venue to be confirmed, followed by the North Oxford session on Thursday, July 14, at 6.30pm at North Oxford Community Centre.

An event for the Central, South and West area has already been held.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk l For more details, see oxford.gov.uk/ sitesandhousing or call on 01865 252847. Documents can also be viewed during office hours at Ramsay House, in St Ebbe’s, or at city libraries. Consultation ends on Friday, July 22.