Neighbourhood Planning: A Woodcote Perspective Exeter Hall Monday 12 th March 2012

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 WOODCOTE An active community.  the great majority value the rural feel of the village and the surrounding countryside  Entirely within the Chilterns AONB in South Oxfordshire.  Comprised mostly of some Victorian & many modern brick houses  Probably best known for its famous Rally  In which fewer than half of those employed locally live in the village; and  where most work outside the village. A Village:  Of some 2500 – 400% larger than in the 1950’s  Who care about its future  Who feel very strongly that further development should not be allowed. A nice place to live Woodcote Rally

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 WHY A FRONT RUNNER COUNCIL ? Woodcote 10k The desire to follow up the 2008 Parish Plan The Core Strategy meant new houses for Woodcote. The PC wanted development that met the village needs A head’s start , 1991 and 2000 Village Appraisals, and the 2008 Parish Plan An adopted Neighbourhood Plan carries statutory weight. A Parish Plan has only to be considered. £20,000 grant Get some control Hilltop field Timing Need Mechanism Positioning Funding The right combination of: Threat      

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 WHAT DO WE HOPE FOR ? Rainbow over Woodcote A (more) level playing field Stability in a longer term binding agreement Improved demographic balance Less sense of powerlessness, less resentment, less conflict Better match of development to need Much greater local input Recognition that some development can benefit Woodcote No disruptive development No speculative development     Community ownership and buy-in

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 PROGRESS SO FAR 4 Stage Programme Housing Need Site Identification Site Selection Housing Design Sustainability Analysis Communication Stage Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 Assemble the Team Process/Approach Likely Timescale Task Groups      Goals/Emphasis/Scope

Analysed  Village statistics  Parish Plan  Village Appraisals Organised  Housing Needs survey  Village meeting  Ask the village Yet to  Propose a housing mix Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 PROGRESS SO FAR2 Determine the Housing Need/Mix Identify all possible Development Sites Produce Sustainability Analysis Agree Site Selection method & criteria Specify Housing Design objectives Produce Draft Plan Stage 2       Communicate ! Listed  SHLAA Sites Added  other possible sites Yet to  Contact Landowners Determined  4 strategic directions Specified  Selection Process  Selection Questions Yet to  Consult with village Studying  CCB Building Guidelines  SODC Guidelines Yet to  Consult with village Studying  SODC Scoping Report  Thame Scoping Report Begun  Drafting the Woodcote Scoping Report Investigating  What the SA need is Produced:  7 Correspondent articles  Village website entries  NP website Run a Drop-in exhibition  Displays  Banners  Flyers  Press release

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 PROGRESS SO FAR 4 Stage Programme Stage Hall Monday 12 th March &4 Draft the Plan Test with Village Test with SODC Amend Final Version Stage 4 Inspection Amendment Referendum

Hall Monday 12 th March 2012 SURVIVING THE VOTE Website Woodcote doesn’t want more houses BUT the SODC Core Strategy will require Woodcote to take more Planned communication from the start The majority must believe that  It’s their plan  They’ve had their say  They’ve been listened to  This is good for the village  It’s an honest process  High early awareness  Chances to contribute  No preconceptions  Frequent public updates  Openness, transparency 

MONEY ItemBudgetComments District 6400Tbc Management 650Probably 300 Web & ings 750Probably 250 Village Consultations 2500Probably 1500 Professional Services 9500? Miscellaneous 200? Total20000Front Runner Grant