An interim report by the Oxford Growth Commission has been welcomed by the city council.
Cllr Susan Brown, leader of the Oxford City Council, said the report would help the city lead the way in sustainable growth.
The report identifies growth areas in both the city and the county and addresses constraints on growth. Consultation on the report will take place early next year before the final version is published in the Autumn of 2026.
The interim report seeks to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis by delivering new homes at scale and help realise its economic potential.
It calls for Oxfordshire authorities to work collectively to deliver the Government‘s increased target for house building which includes Green Belt releases.
Cllr Brown said the commission’s approach is in line with the council’s own three-authority proposals which includes new unitaries north and south of the city.
She said: “Oxford has the ideas, skills and ambition to lead the way in sustainable growth, and the Oxford Growth Commission’s report is a positive step towards making that happen.
“The vision and approach it sets out are very much aligned with our own thinking, including our three council proposal. The report acts as a timely challenge to the status quo across Oxfordshire, with its call to increase housing delivery and the need to release more Green Belt around Oxford to support that and help the city realise its economic potential.
“I look forward to working constructively with the county council and our neighbouring district councils to hopefully shift the dial on both these issues.
“I welcome the commission’s work and look forward to working with partners to turn these plans into reality. Together, we can deliver growth that protects what makes Oxford special while opening up new possibilities for our children and grandchildren.”
The commission argues that its focus on growth in and around the city would encourage more inward investment along with accelerated innovation within Oxford.
Growth areas include Oxford West End, Oxford East, the Cowley Branch Line, Oxford Parkway Station and Kidlington. The commission will now help develop spatial frameworks for those opportunity areas and work with Homes England to prioritise investment.
Image: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
This article and its contents are the intellectual property of UK Property Forums and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without prior written permission. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not constitute legal or professional advice.
