THE Vale’s consultants BDP, who are preparing the supplementary planning document for Botley central area, held their second stakeholder consultation workshop on Tuesday evening.

The supplementary planning document (SPD) will set out what the developer, MACE, will be able to do.

On it, the fate of the whole community will be decided.

The document is supposed to supplement the existing Local Plan, which says that Botley is a local shopping centre that should meet the day-to-day needs of the local area. Working alongside BDP, consultants DTZ presented the output of their “high-level viability assessment”.

From what I understood personally of the presentations, instead of considering how a development might deliver on the local plan, DTZ informed us that the only possible “viable” for a development would need to include: Student accommodation of about 400 units – described as essential for developer viability; a hotel; national retailers; chain restaurants; and a multiplex cinema of five or more screens in order to attract the chain restaurants.

Independent retailers or restaurants were seen as probably not able to afford the rents in a new development. (So, sorry, local retailers, we know that the local MP supports you, but your district council doesn’t.) Spaces for offices were ruled out, even though we are in a flourishing science corridor, and residential was ruled out as it demands parking – as if no students have cars and it were possible to prevent them owning them.

Buildings would be allowed to be up to eight storeys in height.

Is it not all depressingly familiar?

The Doric scheme that was turned down unanimously by the planning committee as completely inappropriate would have been approved if this SPD had been in place last year.

We in Botley want the West Way developed for our local needs. Please will the council listen?

MARY GILL
Eynsham Road, Botley