The Inspectors examining the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Joint Local Plan 2041 have raised serious concerns in their Post-Hearings Letter (ID10), leaving questions over the future of the plan.
The letter from the inspectors includes concerns over whether the councils have fully met their duty to co-operate with neighbouring authorities on key strategic issues. Additionally, they express doubts about the councils’ reliance on older commitments to deal with unmet housing demand.
Speaking following the publication of the letter, Cllr Ian Snowdon, who represents Didcot West on South Oxfordshire District Council said “The letter exposes deep flaws in the administration’s approach. Instead of giving communities certainty, residents are now left with a local plan under challenge and in need of significant work to satisfy inspectors.
“Years of preparation should have delivered a robust and defensible plan, but the Lib Dems failure to provide clarity and credible evidence has left the future of planning in South and Vale in doubt, and risks leaving our area exposed to speculative development in unsuitable locations.”