Much more housing is going to be built in Cherwell over the next few years, and with it will come the impact of increased traffic and other travel issues, and a need for more community facilities of all kinds.
Our parish council is participating in the development of a new community-based Neighbourhood Plan for the Mid-Cherwell area. This initiative could play an important role in shaping the future of our local villages by determining, with statutory force, what development might be welcome and what might not be.
The draft Modified Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Area has now been submitted to Cherwell District Council. The Plan proposes planning policies to be used in the determination of planning applications within the Neighbourhood Plan Area.
Cherwell District Council is undertaking public consultation on the draft (Submission) Plan. The draft Plan and supporting documents are available for public comment on-line at https://cherwell.citizenspace.com/
Since the publication of this plan there has been a proposal to develop a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Ardley which will completely change the character of the area. This is being considered a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’ which is determined by the Secretary of State on the advice of the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the local authorities. Local opposition is being coordinated by the MCNP team.