PUBLISHED references to “plans to build 1,600 homes on land near Blenheim Palace” (Oxford Mail, January 26) are understated. 

The five proposed strategic sites around Woodstock – as listed in recent public consultations on West Oxfordshire District Council’s modifications of its Draft Local Plan and Cherwell District Council’s ‘Partial Review’ – form a veritable arch of Blenheim-owned fields which, if allocated as potential development sites, could expand the town by 50 per cent more than 1,600 additional dwellings.

Blenheim chief operating officer and property director Roger File therefore seems exaggeratedly out of context in suggesting: “Change is something people are always scared of.”

Woodstock’s residents are intelligent and understand the inevitability of natural growth. They also know a good thing when they see it. 

But Blenheim’s commercial development ambitions entail redefinition of Woodstock’s surroundings, and as such are contrived, impractical and far over the top.

On February 6, WODC will consider a Blenheim planning application for up to 300 dwellings on part of the site of the twice-refused ‘Woodstock East’ proposals. 

Peter Marsden, chairman of the ICOMOS-UK World Heritage Committee, in July lodged a response to the application, stating: “While this is a significant reduction in scale, the development would still be a major one in relation to the existing settlement.” 

ICOMOS-UK is an official adviser to UNESCO on cultural World Heritage Sites. 

Often overlooked is the fact that Blenheim is a privately owned World Heritage Site (WHS). There seems to be an avoidance of sufficient consideration as to whether Blenheim’s commercial development ambitions may jeopardise its own WHS status.

ICOMOS-UK’s July letter noted: “While it can be argued that the current application follows the precedent of suburban housing outside the park wall established from the 1950s, these developments were largely built before the inscription of Blenheim as a WHS in 1987.” 

ICOMOS-UK’s letter concluded: “Beyond this, a halt should be called to all further development before progressive salami-slicing of the remaining open land results over time in its entire loss.” 

Green fields around Woodstock should not be treated as blank canvasses. 

SHARONE PARNES
Town Councillor for Woodstock