Oxfordshire Strategic Plan Refresh

The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) is a private company that is responsible for creating the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) for Oxfordshire. The directors of this company include the leaders of each of the Oxfordshire Councils along with a number of representatives from the business, voluntary sector and academia.

The Plan for Oxfordshire, first submitted to the Government in December 2013, proposes targets of 85,600 new jobs and up to 106,560 new homes by 2031, equivalent to two new cities the size of Oxford; at least 200,000 more people, roughly a 30 per cent increase in our population. This translates into about 23,500 new homes for the Vale, 55,000 people with 36,000 cars!

Now OxLEP is ‘refreshing’ the Plan and holding a public consultation. The consultation runs until 27 May on the OxLEP website: oxfordshirelep.org.uk/content/sep-refresh-consultation so get your comments in now!

While we are being given the opportunity to comment on some aspects of the Plan, OxLEP has made it clear that the overall growth targets are not up for debate. The only questions asked in the consultation and my very brief comments are shown below:

“1. Does the SEP capture the main characteristics of the Oxfordshire economy, its challenges and opportunities?” It fails to recognise the lack of affordable housing and our chronic congestion / infrastructure deficit. Without addressing this challenge it will fail.

“2. People - do we have the right priorities and commitments in place?” It identifies that Oxfordshire is approaching full employment already and that most of the population growth will be in the over 64 age group but doesn’t address how this mismatch will be managed.

“3. Place - do we have the right priorities and commitments in place?” The affordability of housing across the county continues to be a major concern. The challenges are acute for younger people and those in less well-paid jobs. They are also affecting Oxfordshire’s ability to recruit and retain nurses and teachers – key professions in terms of the county’s overall quality of life.

“4. Enterprise - do we have the right priorities and commitments in place?” Not enough focus is given to the need for training for young people, nor for care and leisure facilities for the over 64’s – bear in mind that a large proportion of them are active in mind and body!

“5. Connectivity - do we have the right priorities and commitments in place?” Everything is focussed on the major hubs, how will we reduce carbon emissions without better public transport throughout the county?

“6. Does the SEP articulate clearly the roles and responsibilities of OxLEP - both in itself and in relation to other processes?” OxLEP should be a democratically elected and accountable body which takes full responsibility for delivery of the plan it produces.

“7. Any additional comments?” The SEP should include the phasing of growth, to ensure that delivery of housing, infrastructure and jobs is in tandem. It should also include an assessment of the cumulative social and environmental impacts of the planned growth in jobs and housing at a county level and not abdicate responsibility for this.