The South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have expressed strong criticism of Oxford City Council’s housing development strategy under the Oxford Local Plan 2040. The city council has proposed the need for 1,322 new homes annually, a figure that surpasses the government’s estimate of 762 new homes per year. While City Councillor Alex Hollingsworth argued that the government’s calculations were outdated, citing reliance on 2014 data instead of the 2021 census, the proposal has sparked concern among neighboring councils about the potential impact on Oxfordshire’s rural areas.
The consultation for the Oxford Local Plan 2040, which is open until March 27, aims to evaluate housing needs and provisions over the coming years. Subsequent stages will assess how many homes Oxford City Council can accommodate within its jurisdiction and how much spillover might fall to adjacent district councils. However, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have urged the city council to limit development within its boundaries, arguing that the current proposal is unsustainable and unfairly shifts responsibility to neighboring areas.
South Oxfordshire District Council Leader Davide Rouane noted that his council has already approved extensive housing developments, including projects such as 3,000 homes near Grenoble Road, 1,800 at Northfield to the south, and 1,100 at Bayswater Brook to the east. Similarly, Vale of White Horse District Council Leader Bethia Thomas highlighted concerns that Oxford City has overestimated its housing needs while underestimating its capacity, resulting in dependency on surrounding rural districts.
Councillor Hollingsworth dismissed accusations of underestimating Oxford’s capacity and cited that all employment sites in the city could be developed, provided their owners are willing. Nevertheless, the councillor acknowledged that housing demand is likely to outpace what the city alone can supply. The city council also denied asking rural district councils to adopt its alternative housing calculation method over the government’s standard method.
Hollingsworth expressed disappointment in the joint statement from the district councils, emphasizing that Oxford City Council had engaged with district council officers throughout the process. While there is no obligation for councils to adopt Oxford’s approach, the city council insists on the importance of factoring in the 2021 census data to avoid reducing housing affordability. Proactive planning within Oxfordshire remains central to ensuring a balanced provision of jobs and homes across the region.
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