In this update, we’ll be focusing on national policy and local plan news and the current status of local plans in Oxfordshire and the Cotswold district. The aim is to keep you informed of timescales for site monitoring and policy review in relation to land and property portfolios.
On 19 December 2023, The Secretary of State delivered a speech entitled ‘Falling back in Love with the future’ and made a Written Ministerial Statement on the long-term plan for housing. This was shortly followed by the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework on 20 December 2023.
This was the latest of planning reforms but signals greater change during 2024. The government expresses that it is committed to building more homes and that this will be achieved through up-to-date local plans.
Further reforms to the local plans are expected in 2024, this includes new National Development Management Policies and new timetables for producing local plans.
As we noted in our last Autumn update, Oxfordshire authorities have been busy progressing their plans before the rules change.
Cotswold District Council has joined them with a current consultation on proposed changes to Local Plan policies and a call for sites. More information can be found on the Cotswold Local Plan Update Consultation page.
Current status of local plans and upcoming consultations
We have a wealth of experience with local plans and have successfully prepared a number of site submissions and represented clients at local plan examinations. So, if you wish to explore the consequences of the emerging policy changes, or have sites or proposals which may be affected by them, we would be happy to discuss this with you and make the necessary representations.
For further information on these updates, you can contact Paul Slater, Associate Director here at Edgars via enquiries@edgarslimited.co.uk or call 01865 731700.
*Note, this information is accurate on the date it was published: 28 March 2024
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