The government's draft National Planning Policy Framework has just been published. We are concerned that the section devoted to Green Belts might not provide the same degree of protection as the present Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 on Green Belts. We are studying it carefully with a view to responding to the consultation.

We are involved in the hearings into South Oxfordshire District Council's Core Strategy and have recently responded to Oxford City Council's consultation on its Sites Allocations - Preferred Options. For more information on these concerns, see our August 2011 Newsletter.

We have commented on Oxford City Council's Sites and Housing DPD - Preferred Options. There are 8 sites identified in the Green Belt and we are pleased that most of these are not allocated, especially those important meadows in the Cherwell Valley north and south of Marston Ferry Road which are part of an important wildlife corridor. But we are opposed to a cemetery near Hill View Farm, Marston, which would be quite out of place here. We believe the land at Oxford Road, Horspath, should be reserved for sports use and any idea of wind turbines dropped completely.

We have appeared, with CPRE, at the hearings into South Oxfordshire District Council's Core Strategy. We were opposed to the proposals in this plan to take more land out of the Green Belt at Wheatley and to remove Green Belt status from Berinsfield. Our case was that this is not the best approach to finding sites for affordable housing at Wheatley, and that regeneration can take place at Berinsfield without taking the village out of the Green Belt. The inspector has issued a preliminary report on the hearings so far and we are pleased that he agrees with us about Wheatley, that further development here would result in sprawl and encroachment into the countryside. However, he has stated that exceptional circumstances exist to support a Green Belt review at Berinsfield.

We opposed the new road linking Begbroke science park to the A44, now approved, and fear that this will open up the surrounding land to development. This area, between Begbroke, Yarnton and Kidlington has great amenity value for the local population and should not be lost.

We have commented recently, amongst other matters, on the following: on plans for a recycling centre at Langford Lane, Kidlington, which we believe should have been on an industrial estate, not on Green Belt land; on unauthorized development in connection with vehicle recovery near Wheatley service station; on views from Greyhound Meadow of the proposed development at St Clement's car park in the City; on the Barton Area Action Plan and its likely impact on the Bayswater Valley and adjoining countryside; on the proposal for an even taller and more intrusive telecom mast at Port Meadow; on floodlighting plans at the University sports ground off Iffley Road; and on plans at a number of farm sites in Garsington, Waterperry and Stanton St John.

Sports grounds are an acceptable use of land in the Green Belt but only if they do not involve large pavilions and intrusive structures including high floodlighting. We have recently expressed concerns over increased floodlighting at Banbury Road North and over plans for a rebuilt clubhouse at the rugby ground in North Hinksey.

The plan for a gypsy settlement alongside the A.34 north of Kidlington has been withdrawn. It would have been in open countryside and the site, next to a very busy road, was very unsuitable for any residential development.

It is a sad fact that dairy farms continue to go out of business and this has a knock-on effect on the Green Belt as alternative uses for land and buildings are proposed. We have recently been involved over plans for such sites at Hampton Poyle and at Cuddesdon.

There is a plan to build a new house within the ruins of the Elizabethan manor house at Hampton Gay. We are concerned at the effect this would have on the surrounding site which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Our preference is to see the ruins cleared of overgrown vegetation and stabilised to prevent further deterioration.

We are pleased that the government has decided that the proposed ecotown, Weston Otmoor, should not go ahead. Almost the whole of the site was greenfield and a quarter of it was in the Oxford Green Belt. The alternative scheme, for North West Bicester, should enable the town of Bicester to achieve a higher level of services and employment opportunities and so take some pressure off Oxford and its Green Belt surroundings.

There have been a number of legal challenges to the proposed urban extension south of Oxford, a scheme which was added to the South East Plan by the government despite it being wholly within the Green Belt. The outcome of these challenges is awaited with interest.

The corridor of Green Belt which follows the Cherwell Valley brings the countryside into the heart of Oxford and it is enjoyed by all those who walk there or punt on the river. But the rural atmosphere of this important corridor is threatened by proposals for housing development in the City's Core Strategy and by land sales currently taking place.

The banks of the Oxford Canal are being increasingly taken up by house boats. In addition there are major plans for one or more marinas alongside the canal near Yarnton. These go far beyond what is acceptable in the Green Belt.

In the absence still of an overall County policy for minerals and waste, we are faced with a steady stream of applications for mineral extraction and waste treatment projects in the Green Belt. We support recycling but believe that large waste processing plants should be on landfill sites or industrial estates, not on greenfield sites. We also believe that the Green Belt will be damaged by the opening up of new gravel extraction sites and are anxious about the effect of existing ones on the water table close to protected wildflower meadows.

In its Core Strategy, Oxford City Council is proposing a major development on land in the Wolvercote and Pear Tree area north of the city. To be called the Northern Gateway, it is intended primarily for employment uses and perhaps for accommodating emergency services. Parts of the site are in the Green Belt and the rest was taken out of the Green Belt as recently as 1997. The matter will be debated at the resumed inquiry into the Core Strategy on 10th and 11th September 2009.

The railway company has put forward a plan to upgrade the existing line to Bicester and link it into the main line to London from that town. The project involves a parkway station where the present grain silo is at Water Eaton. This site is in the Green Belt so the implications need careful study

The Environment Agency has carried out a consultation into plans to alleviate the flood risk, especially to the western parts of Oxford and to nearby villages. Whilst we support the overall aim of reducing flooding, we have reservations about the idea of making a new river channel across the Hinksey meadows and prefer measures that involve regular maintenance of existing waterways.

Schemes for floodlighting sports facilities in the Green Belt continue to be put forward. Some of these involve excessive amounts of very intrusive lighting which is damaging to the rural character of the Green Belt.

We have noted a growing tendency to use roundabouts for raising money through advertising. Whilst we have nothing against sponsorship of landscaping on roundabouts, we object to large boards advertising the companies involved which are a visual distraction and add to roadside clutter in the Green Belt.

22 October 2008 - At a meeting of the Oxford City Council Executive Board, the Council made public their plans to set up a joint venture to develop land south of Grenoble Road with Magdalen College and Thames Water to ensure the early delivery of the plan. Read or download the document discussed (PDF 260 Kb, please be patient - this large file may take several seconds to appear) at that meeting.

Ecotown

Two schemes for so-called "ecotowns", both in the Oxford Green Belt, were submitted to the government. One of them, at Shipton quarry, has been rejected. The other one, at Weston-on-the-Green, has been included on the shortlist of 15 from which the government will later in the year select ten.

About a third of the site of "Weston Otmoor" is in the Green Belt, and a part of this is an area of Special Scientific Interest. Some 15,000 dwellings are proposed and it would be a new town in all but name. Aside from the destruction of Green Belt land, the scheme conflicts with existing plans at regional, county, district and parish levels. The site is close to Bicester where it would seriously compromise approved plans to improve services and infrastructure in that town. We believe Weston Otmoor should be dropped from the list of ecotowns.

Wind Turbines

All who love the surroundings of Oxford will be horrified by the news that the City Council is working with a private company to install giant wind turbines on 4 sites, all in the Green Belt. The sites are at Chilswell Farm, Cutteslowe Park, Oxford Road Horspath, and Sandford Brake. For more insight into City Council thinking see:
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 4 February 2008 (PDF 230 Kb),
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 17 March 2008 (PDF 261 Kb), and,
Oxford City Council Executive Board meeting of 21 April 2008 (PDF 435 Kb).

We do not believe that inland windfarms are economically effective and the turbines, if erected, would harm cherished views and add to clutter from pylons and overhead wires in Oxford’s Green Belt setting. The Oxford Green Belt is not the place for wind turbines, least of all the Hinksey Hills and Shotover. They would do great harm for very little benefit and should not be allowed to go ahead.

Book Depository

Despite having its application rejected by the City Council, the University of Oxford is persisting with its proposal to erect a huge book depository at Osney Mead on the western side of Oxford. A public inquiry into the plans is due to begin on 1st July. The book warehouse would be enormous and, we believe, would spoil for ever the classic views of Oxford's towers and spires from the Hinksey Hills and Meadows. These views, immortalized by writers and artists are too precious to lose to a building for which there are alternative sites. We hope the inquiry, at which the Oxford Green Belt Network will give evidence, will result in the final rejection of this very damaging scheme.