Charlbury 2043 Draft Plan

Sun 16 Aug, 09:34

The public consultation on 26 August is an important opportunity for the Charlbury community to have its say on the developments that could shape the town over the next decade.

Nobody is suggesting that Charlbury does not need additional housing. However, there are serious questions about the location, suitability and delivery of the proposed sites, particularly Jeffersons Piece.

The Jeffersons Piece proposal has been considered before. It was removed from the draft plan in 2019 and did not form part of the final published plan. So, what has changed to justify its return?

There are also longstanding concerns around:

Access and increased traffic on Jeffersons Piece and Ditchley Road

Construction traffic, including potential HGV movements

The impact on wildlife, trees and the surrounding protected landscape

The capacity of existing roads and infrastructure

The impact of further development on the wider community

There are also other sites across Charlbury that raise questions. Rushy Bank, the field behind Hydac, the site near the old police house, and the Deanfield development all deserve proper scrutiny.

There are also flats on Nine Acres, next to the Scout Hut, which have reportedly been empty for several years and were intended for redevelopment. Surely existing empty or incomplete developments should be addressed before continually identifying new greenfield sites.

The question is not whether Charlbury needs housing — it is where that housing should go and whether existing commitments are actually being delivered.

If sites remain unfinished, fields are fenced off for years without development, or existing properties remain empty, where is the accountability and communication?

We need a coordinated, evidence-based and community-focused approach to housing in Charlbury, rather than simply identifying additional sites to meet housing targets.

The consultation beginning on 26 August is our opportunity to make our views known. Please take part, read the proposals and make your concerns heard.

Charlbury’s future should be shaped with the community, not simply for the community.