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.

The Oxfordshire Growth Board has re-affirmed its commitment to the environment with a series of new measures.

At the meeting on March 22, the Board endorsed a Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire – which places environmental wellbeing among its core ambitions, approved establishing an Environment Advisory Group (EAG), and endorsed a set of Oxford-Cambridge Arc-wide Environment Principles.

Low energy building standards will continue to be set by local authorities, the Government has confirmed.

Councillor Emily Smith, Chair of the Oxfordshire Growth Board, and Councillor Susan Brown, Chair of the Housing Advisory Sub-Group, wrote to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) setting out the Board’s zero-carbon ambitions.

In response, Megan Griffiths from the Energy Performance of Buildings Division in MHCLG confirmed the Government will continue to allow local authorities to set local energy efficiency standards for buildings.

The electrification of the rail line between Didcot and Oxford remains a possibility according to the Department for Transport.

Councillor Emily Smith, Chair of the Oxfordshire Growth Board, wrote to the Transport Minister seeking commitment to East-West Rail.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Minister for Rail, confirmed a review is being undertaken by East West Rail Company, which is looking at options including full electrification along the whole route as well as partial electrification using battery/electric hybrid rolling stock, and other sustainable rolling stock options.

The Oxfordshire Growth Board has received a commitment for more community-led housing (CLH) from the Government.

In a letter, Minister of State for Housing Christopher Pincher confirmed £4m had been made available nationally to reopen the Community Housing Fund, which supports CLH, enabling communities to develop local, affordable housing that meets their needs.

Work has begun on a new 80 apartment Extra Care Living development in Didcot as part of the Great Western Park Urban Extension Scheme.

The three-storey scheme is being developed by Housing 21, which has appointed Midlands-based Deeley Construction as lead contractor.

The development is expected to be completed in December 2022 and has received funding from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

The Oxford to Cambridge Arc Leadership Group is hosting a webinar on the energy revolution on Tuesday 23 March at 10am.

The online event will showcase energy innovations from across the Arc as well as highlighting challenges and opportunities that the energy revolution presents to the area.