West Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire lies to the west of the city of Oxford on the western edge of the South East region, and adjoins the county boundaries with Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. The upper reaches of the River Thames form the southern boundary and the Cotswold Hills cover the north-western part of the district.
West Oxfordshire is one of the most attractive parts of Britain, a charming blend of bustling market towns, picturesque villages and breathtaking natural scenery. A third of the district is in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 2% lies within the Green Belt surrounding Oxford city. The district has a population of about 100,000 people and an overall density of around 1.4 persons per hectare, making it one of the most rural authorities within the South East region. Residents and visitors enjoy a high quality environment, with a strong sense of place derived from the character of its buildings set in attractive rolling countryside and wooded river valleys. This places great importance on protecting and enhancing the environment, and managing the impacts of climate change.
West Oxfordshire has a rich architectural and historic heritage ranging from Cotswold stone cottages and dry stone walls to the splendour of Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site.
There are two distinct landscape types, the Cotswold Hills and the Upper Thames Clay Vale. Several rivers such as the Windrush, Evenlode, Thames and Cherwell contribute to the district’s rich biodiversity and offer opportunities for leisure and recreation, including through use of restored gravel pits. There are more than 500 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and way-marked routes across the district.
There are around 130 separate settlements, but few larger towns. Fourty per cent of the population lives in the two largest centres (Witney and Carterton), and forecasts suggest that by 2016 nearly half of the population will live in just 3% of the district’s area. West Oxfordshire has a higher proportion of residents of retirement age than any of the other Oxfordshire districts or the South East overall, and this proportion is forecast to increase significantly over the next ten years. Carterton is home to RAF Brize Norton, the proposed expansion of which means the high proportion of people in the district working in or linked to the service community is likely to increase.
The area faces no major social problems, and crime figures are amongst the lowest in the country. The local economy performs well, with above average levels of entrepreneurial activity, low unemployment and a tight labour market. The area is an attractive place to live for skilled staff, with a diverse economy including clusters of high technology industry and a strong tourism sector worth over £200 million annually to the district's economy. However, high house prices in the district can make it difficult for young people and families to stay in the area, and combined with an ageing population this creates challenges for communities in maintaining the vibrancy and prosperity of the towns and villages.
Main roads such as the A40, A44, A361 and A4095 provide access to larger centres outside of the district but within easy reach, including Oxford, Swindon, Cheltenham and Banbury. The Cotswold and Cherwell Valley railway lines pass through the area, and there is a network of bus services and community transport schemes. Despite this, about a quarter of the 59 Charlbury - Photo by Richard Potts Oxfordshire 2030 - Improving the quality of life in Oxfordshire population lives in areas ranked within the worst 10% in England in terms of accessibility to a range of services. As a result many rural residents have no alternative but to rely on cars (where available), meaning the district faces specific challenges in ensuring all residents can access the services and facilities they need now and in the future.
Priorities for action
World class economy
- Sustain economically prosperous and vibrant towns and villages.
- Create an environment that encourages a diverse range of business types and employment across the district.
- Developing skills that support local business success.
- Developing appropriate business development and support in the local area.
- Give young people the best chance of gaining employment and becoming economically independent.
Healthy and thriving communities
- Facilitate vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities, and address the specific challenges of living in rural West Oxfordshire in terms of access to services and facilities.
- Ensure that all policy and service delivery is subject to testing to make sure it considers the impact on rural issues and areas (rural proofing).
- Joint working to improve access to services, including a co-ordinated approach to minimising the barriers experienced by older people.
- Promote and help facilitate investment in new infrastructure and better public transport.
- Create a joined-up approach to improving health and well-being, and promote and support healthy lifestyle choices.
- Address the inequalities in health in West Oxfordshire, and health issues and support needs specific to an ageing population such as mental health and wellbeing and social inclusion.
- Improve the promotion of the welfare of children and young people in the district, and support communities to offer a wide range of positive activities for young people.
- To promote the provision of new affordable homes, including better access to affordable housing and improvement in the affordability of existing accommodation.
- Further reduce crime and nuisance and fear of crime across the district to improve the quality of life in our neighbourhoods, and address neighbourhood concerns.
Environment and climate change
- Maintain and enhance the natural environment across West Oxfordshire.
- Maintain and improve the built environment across West Oxfordshire.
- Take a more sustainable approach to resource management across the district.
- Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Local Development Framework
Shaping Futures, the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) for West Oxfordshire, and the Core Strategy for the Local Development Framework (LDF) are being prepared in close collaboration, with joint consultation undertaken in the initial stages. As a result, the emerging Core Strategy is expected to support and facilitate the delivery of the aims within the SCS. Further information about the development of the LDF is available at www.westoxon.gov.uk/planning/LDF.cfm.
