What is the new Local Plan?
The new Local Plan will tackle the main challenges that people and businesses in Oxford are dealing with. By looking at how land in the city is currently used, it will help guide where and how new homes can be built in the future, and support the growth of Oxford’s economy in a fair and inclusive way, while still protecting the things that make the city special.
The plan will include policies on the following key topics:
- Prioritising the delivery of affordable housing for Oxford’s needs, especially social housing and key worker housing.
- Flexibly allowing residential development on land currently used for employment, such as offices and business areas.
- Addressing climate change, flood risk and seeking to protect new buildings from adverse impacts.
- Requiring low carbon and environmentally friendly buildings with carbon and efficiency standards that will seek to go beyond national requirements.
- Protecting heritage assets and their surroundings, protecting in-use cultural and community venues.
- Promoting good design of new buildings across the whole of the city.
How to take part
We can’t get the Local Plan right without input from the community. That’s why we need to consult on the Local Plan during multiple phases of creating it. After each phase, we carefully look through your comments and amend the Local Plan accordingly.
For the current Reg 18 consultation stage we have provided two options for how you can share your views. There is a full Consultation, made up of a comprehensive and indepth survey where you can comment on all the preferred options we have considered. If you prefer a quicker option, you may wish to consider responding to our Shorter Consultation.
Please continue to check back on this page for opportunities to have your say in future rounds of consultation, including in person or online events where available.
Local Plan Timeline
Early Engagement survey
Early engagement from residents, businesses, and other bodies to help identify the main issues being faced.
March/April 2025
Take me to the survey
Preferred Options Regulation 18 consultation
This is the first of two statutory consultation stages. Relevant persons and organisations are invited to review and share their comments on the policies that are proposed to make up the plan. This is the main opportunity to directly influence the content and scope of the policies in the plan
June/July 2025
Final consultation Regulation 19
This is the second statutory consultation stage. Comments are invited the contents of a finalised draft plan, but only on whether the plan meets legal and procedural requirements, and the ‘tests of soundness’.
Autumn 2025
Submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State
The plan is formally submitted to the Secretary of State, who will appoint a Planning Inspector to carry out an independent examination. The process is managed by the Planning Inspectorate, who will be entirely in control of the timetable from this point onwards.
April 2026
Local Plan Examination
The plan is examined by the government appointed Inspector. They will assess whether or not the plan complies with legal requirements and national policy, and if it meets the tests of soundness. They review the plan's content, hold public hearings to consider community feedback, and then provide a report with recommendations.
November 2026
Adoption of the Plan
After being modified according to the Inspectors’ recommendations, the Plan is formally adopted by the Council. From this point the Plan will provide the strategy for the development of Oxford to 2042 and will be used to determine planning applications.
March 2027
Events
Upcoming Consultation Events
Detail of public outreach events will be published here as they are confirmed
| Date | Time | Location |
| Saturday 5th July | 12.00 - 15.00 | The Leys Festival |
| Saturday 5th July | 14.30 - 16.30 | Afternoon tea at Littlemore Village Hall |
| Tuesday 8th July | 10.00 - 14.00 | Barton Community Centre |
| Wednesday 16th July | 11.00 - 13.00 | North Oxford Association |
| Sunday 20th July | 9.15 - 12.00 | South Oxford Farmers' Market |
| Monday 21st July | 12.00 - 15.00 | Florence Park Café |
| Wednesday 23rd July | 10.45 - 14.15 | Town Hall, Long Room |
| Saturday 26th July | 10.00 - 14.00 | Wolvercote Mill Community Café |
Closed consultations and engagement
Oxford Local Plan 2042 - Early Engagement Survey
Oxford City Council is starting the preparation of a new Local Plan for the city to guide where new development can go. This early involvement is taking place prior to the legally required stages to seek early views from residents, businesses and other bodies to help identify the main issues being faced. What is the new Local Plan? The new Local Plan will aim to address the key issues facing all of Oxford’s residents and businesses. Based on the existing use of the land...
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