OXFORD EMPLOYMENT LAND STUDY APPENDICES March 2006

• the housing market is better able to meet people’s needs
• the quality of the natural, historical and cultural environment continues to be protected and
enhanced
• there is a choice of travel options less dependent on the car.
6. This approach recognises that central Oxfordshire has distinctive characteristics on which its
success is built. Planning for growth which destroyed these characteristics would be counterproductive
because it would in turn destroy the economic vitality and quality of life which is
contributing to the South East’s success. The Central Oxfordshire economy (especially the
high value added end) is largely founded on the universities, spin offs, research campuses,
and publishing, for whose workers much of the appeal of Oxfordshire is its heritage, green
spaces, areas of outstanding natural beauty, etc. It is important to provide employment land
for such uses rather than for activities such as warehousing and distribution. It is equally
essential that housing and other growth does not ruin the heritage which is part of Central
Oxfordshire’s appeal to such businesses and their workers.
Two options for spatial growth have been considered:
• Development of larger settlements beyond the Green Belt Focusing growth at the towns
of Bicester in the north of the sub-region and Didcot (and potentially at Wantage/Grove)
in the south. This option has been selected as the preferred spatial strategy by the
County Council.
• Urban extensions to Oxford. immediately to the south of the city and also to the northwest
in the area west of Kidlington.. This would involve development of Green Belt land
and be likely to adversely impact on transport routes including the A34.
This draft strategy has been subject to consultation and it is important to note that there are
differing views on the strategy options between some Central Oxfordshire Districts and the
County Council. Oxford City Council is supporting the urban extension approach to
accommodate additional growth in the City of Oxford, while other districts prefer the other
option.
Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2016 (Adopted October 2005)
7. Employment Policy E1 expects development for employment generating uses to reflect plan
priorities while providing for the requirements of activities which contribute to the regional and
local priorities for economic development and to :
o provide a range of accommodation for small businesses and innovation, skills
development, business infrastructure and linkages within the knowledge based economy;
o be located mainly in or adjoining urban areas or in existing concentrations of employment
with good accessibility from residential areas, particularly by non-car modes of transport;
o as far as practicable incorporate measures to encourage shorter journeys to work and
travel on foot, by cycle or public transport;
o not be of a scale or character that gives rise to large increases in commuting in the area
or low intensity uses of land which generate heavy traffic on local roads. Priority should
be given to development which supports educational, scientific and technological sectors
and responds to the needs of established and emerging clusters within the county.
Priority is also to be given to development which supports educational, scientific and
technological sectors and responds to the needs of established and emerging clusters within
the economy.
This policy reflects an aim of sustaining prosperity and supporting the local economy to ensure
that sufficient land is available in appropriate locations to meet the needs of small businesses
LON2005/R10271-002