Cherwell District Council recently published modifications to its draft Local Plan.

The modifications have been made in response to a direction from a Government Planning Inspector. This requires Cherwell to use exceptionally high forecasts of housing need from the controversial Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), which has been much criticised by the public, organisations (such as CPRE) and politicians alike.

The SHMA has not been subject to any consultation or independent examination and we are pressing for this to happen. It may be that the first opportunity to challenge it will be when the examination into the Cherwell Local Plan resumes. This is expected in December. It is important therefore that as many people as possible object to the uncritical use of the SHMA forecasts in Cherwell’s Local Plan, which would put our countryside at risk.

A daunting mass of documents has been produced on the council’s website to accompany the consultation. The council has produced a form for making representations which also appears complicated. However, it is not necessary to use the council’s form and it is possible to send a relatively short e-mail or letter of objection. CPRE suggests how the public can do this on its website, cpreoxon.org.uk Representations can be made until Friday. It is vital that as many people as possible raise their concerns about the use of the SHMA forecasts to ensure that the inspector is aware of the strength of public feeling.

Bruce Tremayne, Chairman, Cherwell District, CPRE Oxfordshire

 

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