Taylor Wimpey have  resubmitted plans to develop the area sandwiched between Church St, the Barford Rd and Milton Road.
After trying to “pull a fast one”  and sneak in 37 houses – far more than set out in their public consultation – they  are now trying for 24.

The proposed development flies in the face of the submitted Neighbourhood Plan in many ways.  Here are just a few.

• Far from providing an enhanced proportion of bungalows or adaptable downsize housing they suggest none of these and instead are proposing some totally inappropriate 3 floor dwellings right on the edge of the conservation area.
• They will be destroying one of the few traffic-free public rights of way left in the central village area by building an access road directly across it.
• They totally ignore the lack of capacity of the primary school taking the view that if they pay up some “106 contributions” then it’s not their problem if parents have to transport their children to schools outside of the village.
• They take note neither of all the evidence that is publically available informaion regarding inadequate pavements nor the high-risk nature of the A361 to both pedestrians and cyclists

Like all developers they assume that if they just keep submitting similar applications often enough, locals will eventually just get so fed up with it all that they will give up.

The neighbourhood Plan is currently “awaiting action” by Cherwell District Council. Until they publish it and set in motion the procedures for it to be examined and voted upon it offers only limited protection.  It is therefore important that residents send Cherwell Planning Department their views. These  will need your name, address, comment and a specific statement as to whether you support or object to the application.
You can also do it online – but CDC don’t make it easy!   You have to register and then navigate their system for which they provide a public access guide that is 32 pages long!