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Oxfordshire councils question Malthouse’s ‘corridor’ housing plans
Two Oxfordshire councils have written to housing minister Kit Malthouse raising questions about the government’s flagship housing plans to build a million homes in the area.
Mr Malthouse wrote to local authorities in the area last month about the government’s plan – announced in last year’s Autumn Budget – to build a million homes in the Cambridge–Milton Keynes–Oxford corridor by 2050.
In his letter, he called on councils “to bring forward ambitious proposals for transformational housing growth, including new settlements”.
These proposals, he said, need to be submitted by 14 September, seven weeks after his letter was sent.
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He added that the government will soon begin looking for “potential locations for new settlements across the corridor”, where the government intends to build a £3.5bn new road.
Responding on Friday, Jane Murphy, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, and Roger Cox, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, questioned the minister’s timing.
Both said they were “surprised” that Mr Malthouse had called for locations to be identified, when the route of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway has not even been decided.
Ms Murphy said that her council is currently working on submitting an updated version of its Local Plan by March 2019, a timetable it had already agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
She added: “I would like to seek an assurance from you that government would not impose new settlements and I would welcome further opportunities for engagement in the process and for further consultation on the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford Corridor.”
Mr Cox made the same points in his statement, and, like Ms Murphy, asked the government to confirm whether the million homes slated to be built in the corridor include the increases in building that will be part of both authorities’ Local Plans.
Oxfordshire will be expected to provide 300,000 of these homes – more than the entire county currently contains.
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “We are committed to building the homes our country needs and our Oxfordshire housing deal is an important part of this.
“It is important we plan the homes and transport people need together. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and other government departments to maximise the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge corridor.”
The government has said it will decide what route the road will take by the end of the summer, with three possible options on the table.
Vale of White Horse District Council has already backed a route through the south of the county, while South Oxfordshire District Council is in favour of a totally different route, from the north of Oxford to Milton Keynes.
Update: at 12.39 on 24.8.18 This story was updated to include a comment from MHCLG.
