Controversial Northern Gateway scheme gets go-ahead (From The Oxford Times)
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Controversial Northern Gateway scheme gets go-ahead
10:30am Thursday 23rd December 2010 in News By Chris Buratta
A CONTROVERSIAL business and housing development in North Oxford will go ahead after a Government inspector approved the city’s planning blueprint.
The ruling on Oxford City Council’s core strategy brings one of the UK’s longest running inquiries to a close.
The Northern Gateway development, on land close to the Pear Tree interchange, will provide 3,000 new jobs and 200 homes. It remains the most contentious site within the plan.
When the core strategy inquiry concluded in September, opponents claimed it would bring gridlock to roads in the north of the city and, given the economic downturn experienced since the plan was created, the job site was no longer needed.
Last night, Jonathan Gittos of campaign group Engage Oxford, set up to oppose the development, called the decision a “travesty of local democracy”.
He said: “It will take some time for us to absorb what has been said and I have not seen a copy of the report yet.”
But he added: “We will do whatever is necessary, whether that is a judicial review or an appeal to the Secretary of State, to ensure the Northern Gateway is removed.”
City council officers began drafting the core strategy document, now Oxford’s planning bible until 2026, five years ago and details of the Gateway development emerged in 2007.
Liberal Democrat city and county councillor Jean Fooks said she was surprised the inspector had allowed the Northern Gateway proposal, which lies within her county ward, given the traffic evidence and strength of local opinion.
She added: “The worry is, we already have the most congested roundabout in Oxfordshire. Putting any more strain on it is unacceptable.
“We need to solve the current problems.”
Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said the Northern Gateway site, which includes land owned by Oxford University colleges and a small parcel of city council-owned land, was critical to Oxford’s economy as it was the only major employment site left within the city.
He said work could start within the next two years, pending planning permission, but he admitted transport improvements would be needed.
He said: “It would be ludicrous to try build it without significant changes to the transport layout there and we accept that.”
He said the core strategy, which contains provision for 8,000 new homes including up to 1,000 at Barton, would not satisfy Oxford’s housing demand. More housing sites would be needed close to the city but, with the abolition of regional planning strategies, that was no longer in the city council’s hands.
He added: “The central Oxfordshire question is at the heart of this. If it is to be the economic dynamo it could be it needs a planning horizon wider than the city boundary.”
Comments(19)
West Oxon Webwatcher
says...
11:50am Thu 23 Dec 10
The problem is, and has been for 40 years and longer, that the employment is in Oxford but there are not enough homes in Oxford for all the workers. 3000 new jobs and 200 homes will mean that 2,800 additional workers will be trying to commute to this site. Very few of these workers will be able to afford the very high prices of the 8,000 planned additional homes shown in the core policy and in any case would not wish to commute across from the other side of the city where most would be located even assuming that there will ever be the finance available to build them.
What is quite obvious is that most of these 3,000 additional workers will wish to live in West Oxon where house prices are a little lower and the current morning queues on the A40 that currently stretch back to Witney will lengthen back to Carterton adding yet another hour to the daily commuting time in these areas. As another commentator advises, the queues on the A44 from the North-West will also lengthen.
The trouble is that the planning decisions are being taken by members and planners of Oxford City who can think no further than the city boundary about the impact of their decisions. It cries out for a county planning authority that can consider the impact of development on the whole of the county.
Andrew:Oxford
says...
1:03pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Sarah Lasenby
says...
2:50pm Thu 23 Dec 10
I know that the present Government has put part of this on hold but one never knows.
Even the development of the Northern Gateway will put a strain on buses as they are more or less at capacity in the centre of town. Was any impact survey done before the approval was given ?
When the County Transport dept says that moving bus stops will give people more exercise they fail to consider the needs of the disabled and elderly.
Sarah Lasenby
oafie
says...
6:08pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Patrick in Devon
says...
6:29pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Conventional bus services alone will simply not cope with demand, let alone get people to use public transport. A light rail network is needed, and would qualify for a European grant.
The current County Council is bereft of ideas, and will never give central Oxfordshire the leadership it needs.
Dilligaf2010
says...
6:45pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Roundabouts go in because somebody thinks it'll solve a problem, then they put traffic lights on the same roundabouts years later, because the first idea didn't work.
We've got bus lanes that don't actually achieve anything because they don't really go anywhere, we've got bus-stops on the main carriageways which causes even more gridlock, so the buses that use the short bus lanes, get held up in traffic anyway.
There are so many problems on Oxfordshire's road network, I'd love to sit down with some of the planners and draw them a few pictures showing where they've gone wrong.
P to the power of 5 is a saying I've used for years, some of you may know what it means, planners however, won't have a clue.
fourmi
says...
7:53pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Dilligaf2010
says...
7:55pm Thu 23 Dec 10
fourmi wrote:Ah, that'll be the one then.
Simple question which has been asked many times but, as far as I know, remains unanswered: which primary school is expected to deal with the extra intake from the 200 homes, given that the closest, Wolvercote, is already many times over-subscribed?
Peterr Mcvey
says...
9:00pm Thu 23 Dec 10
Sophia
says...
7:23am Fri 24 Dec 10
Jonathan Gittos
says...
10:16am Fri 24 Dec 10
Your mock outrage is quite silly. The only people 'investing' in the the Northern Gateway are two large, multinational private developers, one of whom was recently convicted of fraud and the other substantially owned by the Chinese. The profits will go to foreign and institutional investors not Oxford people. The landowners who are profiting are the two wealthiest Oxford Colleges, Merton and St Johns.
The costs of the project, including traffic, pollution and damaged environment will be borne by the people of Oxford and those that work in it or travel to it.
As ever our hard-left council seems to favour the interests of Big Business and Big Government and to despise the little people. There is not one aspect of the plans which answers local needs or considers, local business or the community. We have been given no opportunity to suggest alternative or better plans and therefore no alternative but to oppose the concreting of green fields and green belt. If we as local people don't try to care for our city and environment then who will?
bodchris
says...
11:54am Fri 24 Dec 10
Would solve all issues. Bloody obvious.
Keith Mitchell is a real good looking boy
says...
2:50pm Fri 24 Dec 10
Jonathan Gittos wrote:How is your campaign to save Wolvercote Young People's Centre going Jonathan or aren't you interested when it's not your private property on the line?
Dear Sophia
Your mock outrage is quite silly. The only people 'investing' in the the Northern Gateway are two large, multinational private developers, one of whom was recently convicted of fraud and the other substantially owned by the Chinese. The profits will go to foreign and institutional investors not Oxford people. The landowners who are profiting are the two wealthiest Oxford Colleges, Merton and St Johns.
The costs of the project, including traffic, pollution and damaged environment will be borne by the people of Oxford and those that work in it or travel to it.
As ever our hard-left council seems to favour the interests of Big Business and Big Government and to despise the little people. There is not one aspect of the plans which answers local needs or considers, local business or the community. We have been given no opportunity to suggest alternative or better plans and therefore no alternative but to oppose the concreting of green fields and green belt. If we as local people don't try to care for our city and environment then who will?
Jonathan Gittos
says...
5:13pm Fri 24 Dec 10
A well-designed and beautiful city benefits us all regardless of wealth or privilege. To quote that prophet of the left, Nye Bevan on urban sprawl:
"'Huge ulcers which are gradually sucking in the whole population and making a wilderness of meaningless streets."
oafie
says...
5:41pm Fri 24 Dec 10
Perhaps a new primary school will eventually be built.
Keith Mitchell is a real good looking boy
says...
1:17am Sat 25 Dec 10
If shutting down the old Boys Club had involved your private property you'd have been on to it like a shot as you were with the Northern Gateway campaign.
You've been on here before singing the praises of the man who is responsible for the closure of a Wolvercote institution.
It could hardly be said you have your finger on the local pulse now can it? Thank God you didn't get elected to serve the good people of Wolvercote.
Nye Bevan is it? Somehow I find it hard to imagine you heading up the protest group if it had been the Eastern Gateway and the proposed building was to be in Barton or Blackbird Leys.
Nye Bevan would turn in his grave if he knew you, a Tory, were using his statements to further/cover up a self interest agenda.
Anyway, we all look forward to seeing your vociferous campaign against the closure of Wolvercote Young People's Centre by your much admired Keith Mitchell and a chance to see your true local community credentials.
Come on Jonathan, show us your true mettle and get this campaign going before it's all signed and sealed in January and then February's cabinet meetings.
If you need directions give Keith a call.
Jonathan Gittos
says...
1:12pm Sat 25 Dec 10
I certainly haven't supported the closure of any local amenities and I'm already involved in trying to save local shops and the library - to be honest there is a limit to how much each of us, as ordinary unpaid and unelected individuals can do in our spare time.
I think you're suggestion that we're only involved to protect our interests is both wrong and revealing. Like many on the left you seem to feel morally superior and to see anyone that disagrees with you is at the very least, mildly evil. For the record I oppose and have opposed ugly and inhuman development across the city and I have been involved in consultations in Blackbird Leys and elsewhere in the City.
Nye Bevan, like all of us had different aspects to his character. I think he was a wonderful man who I admire hugely. He and I would probably disagree on some issues (probably less than you'd think - his views did develop) but we would both be passionate opponents of the wilful destruction of our cities and countryside and the cynical imposition of concrete sprawl.
Feel free to email or call me - I'm easy to find on Google - very happy to chat if you think I'm wrong...
Keith Mitchell is a real good looking boy
says...
11:46pm Sat 25 Dec 10
Jonathan Gittos wrote:To be honest I see no advantage to being identified or not, the discussion is still the same.
I guess I'm at a slight disadvantage since I don't know who you are! Unlike you, I'm posting under my real name which is a bit more transparent!
I certainly haven't supported the closure of any local amenities and I'm already involved in trying to save local shops and the library - to be honest there is a limit to how much each of us, as ordinary unpaid and unelected individuals can do in our spare time.
I think you're suggestion that we're only involved to protect our interests is both wrong and revealing. Like many on the left you seem to feel morally superior and to see anyone that disagrees with you is at the very least, mildly evil. For the record I oppose and have opposed ugly and inhuman development across the city and I have been involved in consultations in Blackbird Leys and elsewhere in the City.
Nye Bevan, like all of us had different aspects to his character. I think he was a wonderful man who I admire hugely. He and I would probably disagree on some issues (probably less than you'd think - his views did develop) but we would both be passionate opponents of the wilful destruction of our cities and countryside and the cynical imposition of concrete sprawl.
Feel free to email or call me - I'm easy to find on Google - very happy to chat if you think I'm wrong...
My suggestion about your self interest was based solely on your leaflet to local residents under a Conservative Party banner and I quote;
"My mugshot is on the front of this leaflet because a year ago, I woke to the news that Oxford City Council had apparently decided to demolish my house and that of forty-two other families in Wolvercote Ward. They plan to construct a 100-acre concrete business park called the ‘Northern Gateway’, destroy green belt and green fields and clog our area with 10,000 more cars. Like many of you, I was horrified and resolved to stop them. I joined and then became chairman of the local protest group ‘Engage Oxford’."
This has nothing to do with moral superiority, it has to do with the facts as presented.
I do have to admit though that after reading your political stance you seem to be at odds both nationally and locally with your party.
If you are the real deal then you have my support but Keith Mitchell is at complete odds with you at the moment as is David Cameron.
Maybe your political aspirations better lie as an Independent?
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Trevor Craig says...
11:10am Thu 23 Dec 10