Oxfordshire Growth Board

Oxfordshire Growth Board elects Michele Mead as new Chair

The Oxfordshire Growth Board has elected Councillor Michele Mead as its new Chair.

Cllr Mead, leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, will take up the position immediately, replacing Councillor Emily Smith, who is leader of Vale of White Horse District Council.

Councillor Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council, replaces Cllr Mead as Vice-Chair of the Board.

Oxfordshire Growth Board to meet in person

The Government has confirmed that it will not be extending temporary regulations that permitted the Growth Board to meet virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore, the next meeting of the Growth Board will be held on 8 June 2021 in person at the Vale of White Horse District Council’s offices at 135 Milton Park, Didcot, OX14 4SB.

Community-led housing festival highlights Growth Deal work

Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal was delighted to be asked to join an online discussion as part of the Thames-Valley Community-Led Housing Festival.

A variety of presentations and interactive discussions explored topics such as affordable housing, building partnerships, sustainable building, retrofitting, diversity in community-led housing, and the impact of the pandemic on how we live in our homes and neighbourhoods.

The Growth Deal presentation focused on research into scaling-up community-led housing in Oxfordshire conducted for the Growth Deal by the Collaborative Housing Hub.

Strategic Vision agreed by all of Oxfordshire’s authorities

A strategic vision for the county has been agreed by all Oxfordshire’s local authorities.

Oxfordshire’s Strategic Vision for Long-Term Sustainable Development sets out what future growth in Oxfordshire should look like based on improving social, environmental and economic wellbeing for all.

You can download the full version of Oxfordshire’s Strategic Vision for Long-Term Sustainable Development here (pdf).

Growth Deal cash boost means more affordable homes delivered by partnership

Even more affordable homes will be provided in West Oxfordshire thanks to a funding boost from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

West Oxfordshire District Council agreed with Heylo Housing that up to 34 shared ownership properties would be rolled out across the District but that has risen to 43 homes after the Growth Deal funding was extended from £850,000 to £1.44m.

Government responds to flood defence letter

The Government has responded to the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s letter calling for long-term flood defence investment.

In the letter, Cllr Smith called for a national standard for flood resilience.

In her response, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA Rebecca Pow explained funding for flood risk management was part of the overall local government settlement.

Growth Board expresses disappointment over Government housing land supply decision

The Oxfordshire Growth Board has expressed its disappointment after the Government confirmed it was ending Oxfordshire’s three-year housing land supply flexibility.

The provision meant the county’s five local planning authorities only had to demonstrate three years’ worth of housing land supply, rather than the usual five years.

About the Oxfordshire Growth Board

The Growth Board is a joint committee of the six councils of Oxfordshire together with key strategic partners. Following an extensive public review in 2020, the Board has adopted a new purpose which is to:

Coordinate local efforts to manage economic, housing and infrastructure development in a way that is inclusive and maximises local social and environmental benefits;

Support the development of local planning policy that meets the UK Government’s stated aim of net zero carbon by 2050, and contributes towards biodiversity gain whilst embracing the changes needed for a low carbon world; and,

Seek to secure funding in the pursuit of these aims and oversee the delivery of related work programmes delegated to it by the Joint Committee’s constituent local authority members.

It does this by overseeing the delivery of projects that the councils of Oxfordshire are seeking to deliver collaboratively in the fields of economic development and strategic planning. This cooperation has helped Oxfordshire to secure over £500m of additional investment, such as through the City Deal, Housing and Growth Deal, Housing Infrastructure Fund and the Oxfordshire Rail Connectivity Study. The Growth Board also has an important role in representing Oxfordshire on matters of regional interest.

The Board meets six times each year to discuss issues facing Oxfordshire’s future, most often in a non-decision-making capacity. It is supported by four Advisory Sub-Groups (Infrastructure, Environment, Housing and Oxfordshire Plan 2050), a Scrutiny Panel and a small team of officers who are tasked with delivering on elements of the Board’s work programme.

Through this website, you can find more information about our meetings, membership and how to ask as a question. The full terms of reference for the Growth Board can be found here below.

About the Oxfordshire Growth Board

Upcoming Meetings

Latest Projects

Our Members