The Campaign to Protect Rural England welcomes in principle the announcement that Bicester is to become a ‘garden town’.

On the face of it, this will bring much needed money for infrastructure to help Bicester cope with the enormous growth it has dealt with in recent years, with plenty more to follow.

Whilst it is not clear exactly what environmental criteria will be applied to the housing, we hope the ‘garden town’ tag will also bring with it high sustainability standards, adding to Bicester’s potential to be a centre of excellence for sustainable building and boosting a local ‘green economy’.

However, specific details have yet to come forward and we are told that negotiations between Cherwell District Council and the government will begin in the New Year. It is noticeable that George Osborne’s statement said that the government will provide its backing ‘subject to value for money’, not subject to any environmental considerations.

Today’s letters

Our concern will be that any detailed proposals seek to protect the countryside and rural villages around Bicester that have already suffered the brunt of the town’s significant and rapid expansion. For example, the Town and Country Planning Association says that a Green Belt is a fundamental aspect of a garden city, so perhaps a Bicester Green Belt might be something to think about?

For now though, let us be positive and recognise that in principle at least, Government money for infrastructure and sustainable housing is a welcome investment in our county’s future.

Helen Marshall, Director CPRE, Oxfordshire

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