Issue - meetings

**No public speaking permitted on this item as it is not a planning application for determination by Cherwell District Council**

Planning Committee is asked to approve Cherwell District Council’s Relevant Representation comments to submitted Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application subject to the approval of any amendments by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their role as Portfolio Holder for Planning.

Recommendations 

The Planning Committee resolves:

1.1   To approve Cherwell District Council’s Relevant Representation comments to submitted Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application subject to the approval of any amendments by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their role as Portfolio Holder for Planning.

Resolved

(1)      That, subject to any amendments approved by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their capacity as Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cherwell District Council’s Relevant Representation comments on the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application be approved.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Development Management which recommended the Committee approve the Council’s relevant representation comments to the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the submitted Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application subject to the approval of any amendments by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their role as Portfolio Holder for Planning.

In introducing the report, the Principal Planning Officer explained that the application fell within the category of being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and would be determined by the Planning Inspectorate. As the development was within the council’s administrative area, Cherwell District Council had been identified as a Host Authority by the Planning Inspectorate.  Oxfordshire County Council had also been notified of the proposal and identified as a Host Authority. The Planning Inspectorate had contacted both councils to seek views on the proposal as part of this phase of the consultation, the relevant representations phase.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that the previous consultation response considered by Planning Committee in November 2025 had been the earlier Stage 2 consultation, with the response prepared and submitted in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council. This submission however needed to be made by Cherwell District Council only as the submission served two purposes. Firstly it allowed the Council to express its views on the application as originally submitted highlighting areas of interest to the Examining Authority and areas of additional work that may be needed, and secondly, it secured for the Council the status of an Interested Party.

It was proposed by Councillor Webb and seconded by Councillor Conway that, in line with the officer recommendation, subject to any amendments approved by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their capacity as Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cherwell District Council’s Relevant Representation comments on the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application be submitted.

Resolved

(1)  That, subject to any amendments approved by the Chair of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council in their capacity as Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cherwell District Council’s Relevant Representation comments on the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application be approved.