Review: West Oxfordshire breakfast with Cllrs Andy Graham and Hugo Ashton
SP Broadway was delighted to have Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, and Cllr Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, as guest speakers for our latest Politics of Planning roundtable which was hosted at the West Oxfordshire District Council Offices at Woodgreen, Witney.
Attendees from Savills, Turley, Lichfields, Talyor Wimpey, Stantec, CBRE and Bloor Homes among others all contributed to the discussion. Topics covered included the effects of the new NPPF on West Oxfordshire’s Local Plan, sustainability in development, and the value of community consultation.
Cllr Graham and Cllr Ashton gave an in-depth overview of the planning landscape in West Oxfordshire. Cllr Graham was quick to highlight the need for a partnership approach in planning, working with developers to deliver what the council needed. Cllr Ashton noted the importance of sustainable design in future developments and highlighted that sustainable design had to be net zero or net zero ready, visually interesting, aligned with infrastructure development, and not have a large impact on nature. Cllr Graham led a robust discussion on how developers could target opportunities for employment that align with Oxfordshire and also discussed how developers could assist the possible delivery of the Carterton to Oxford rail link.
Our thanks to Cllrs Graham and Ashton and guests for giving us their time and contributing to such an interesting discussion. Our next online roundtable will be with Cllr Ken Williamson, Portfolio Holder for the Local Plan, Epping Forest, on October 15th 2024.
The attached photograph shows Cllrs Graham and Ashton in the council chamber, which is now open for hire for community and business events. Please email mandy.smith@westoxon.gov.uk for more details if you are interested.
If you would like to attend any of our forthcoming events, please email edward@spbroadway.com.
