Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan

As Bloxham residents, adopting the Draft Modified Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan is your decision. YOU will have the opportunity to vote in a Referendum early 2026. 

Existing Neighbourhood Plan 2016 – 2031

Our existing Neighbourhood Plan is more than halfway through its life cycle and as such, carries less weight with the Local Planning Authority, particularly with regard to housing developments.

Government changes to planning law and housing targets introduced in late 2024 have resulted in Cherwell District Council (CDC) not being able to meet its housing land supply target, which means a tilted balance in favour of development, which in turn is resulting in an avalanche of developers wanting to build in Bloxham. Currently in the Parish there are approved, proposed and possible planning applications amounting to approx. 850 homes. In addition, there are recently approved developments in Hook Norton and Milcombe for a further 120.

Developing the Draft Modified Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan 2025 – 2040: 

The Draft Modified Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared under the Localism Act 2011, the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and in the context of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan (CLP) 2011-2031 (Part 1) (2015) and the emerging Cherwell Local Plan Review (LPR) 2042.

In December 2024, AECOM was commissioned by Bloxham Parish Council to create a Housing Needs Assessment for Bloxham, and in February 2025 were commissioned to create a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as part of the development of the Draft Modified Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan (both reports are available on the Parish Council website).
To ensure a robust Plan is developed, the Parish Council has engaged the services of a Consultancy Team to provide the necessary professional expertise to support the Council through the process. Over the last few months, the Parish Council has been working with its Consultants, AECOM and CDC to develop the Draft Modified Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan and understand the steps to be followed for its adoption

What will having an updated Plan mean for Bloxham:

Once adopted and forming part of CDC Local Plan, any planning applications that conflict with the Plan will ot normally be granted. This is subject to the Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan becoming part of the Local Plan five years or less before the date on which the decision is made and that the Plan contains policies and allocations to meet its identified housing requirements. Once “made” the Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan will carry material weight when deciding on planning applications alongside the adopted Cherwell Local Plan and emerging Local Plan Review.