Agenda item

** Due to document length, to assist access, the appendices to the report are published as a supplement to the main agenda pack **

Report of Assistant Director Planning

Purpose of report

To seek approval for publication the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which includes a five-year housing land supply update (as at 31 October 2025).

To seek approval of the accompanying updates to the Local Plan’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Brownfield Land Register update (December 2025).

To seek approval of the Regulation 10A review of the adopted policies in the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (Part 1) Partial Review – Oxford's Unmet Housing Need. (The Partial Review).

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To approve the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) presented at Appendix 1 including a Housing Land Supply Statement and 2024/25 Infrastructure Delivery Plan update for publication.

1.2           To approve the 2024/25 Brownfield Land Register presented at Appendix 2 be approved for publication.

1.3           To approve the review of the adopted policies in the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (Part 1) Partial Review – Oxford's Unmet Housing Need under Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 presented at Appendix 3 be approved.

1.4           To authorise the Assistant Director Planning to approve the final presentation of the AMR and Brownfield Land Register and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to them prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

Resolved

(1)            That the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR), including a Housing Land Supply Statement and 2024/25 Infrastructure Delivery Plan update be approved for publication.

(2)            That the 2024/25 Brownfield Land Register be approved for publication.

(3)            That the review of the adopted policies in the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (Part 1) Partial Review – Oxford's Unmet Housing Need under Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 be approved.

(4)            That the Assistant Director Planning be authorised to approve the final presentation of the AMR and Brownfield Land Register and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to them prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

The Assistant Director Planning submitted a report to seek approval for publication of the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which included a five-year housing land supply update (as at 31 October 2025). The report also sought approval of the accompanying updates to the Local Plan’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Brownfield Land Register update (December 2025) and the Regulation 10A review of the adopted policies in the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (Part 1) Partial Review – Oxford's Unmet Housing Need. (The Partial Review).

In considering the report, Executive members noted that 11,000 homes had been granted permission but were, as yet, unbuilt and these figures were not taken into account by the Government when assessing housing delivery, which resulted in an inaccurate picture of local performance and put pressure on the council to approve planning developments.

In response to a query regarding what the council could do to hold developers accountable and put pressure on  developers to bring developments forward, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management explained that the Area Oversight Groups (AOGs) played an important role, Developer Forums were being organised, PR8 was coming forward and the Oxford Growth Commission was also doing work on this.     

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property reminded Members that Executive had agreed funding for the AOGs, that would allow them to identify issues with housing land supply and housing delivery. This had resulted in some additional support and external funding from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the delivery of housing locally and finding the barriers to ensuring developments could be delivered.

Whilst noting the action the council was taking, at the request of Executive, the Chair, as Leader of the Council, undertook to write to Minister for Housing setting out the predicament and put pressure on the Government to recognise the situation as well as request that they speed up their infrastructure, including Highways England as appropriate infrastructure was essential alongside any housing development.

Resolved

(1)            That the 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR), including a Housing Land Supply Statement and 2024/25 Infrastructure Delivery Plan update be approved for publication.

(2)            That the 2024/25 Brownfield Land Register be approved for publication.

(3)            That the review of the adopted policies in the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 (Part 1) Partial Review – Oxford's Unmet Housing Need under Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 be approved.

(4)            That the Assistant Director Planning be authorised to approve the final presentation of the AMR and Brownfield Land Register and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to them prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

Reasons

The Annual Monitoring Report provides important information to measure the effectiveness of planning policies and to assist policy making and development management decision making. It is the statutory mechanism for monitoring housing delivery.

Its most significant conclusions are that Cherwell continues to deliver homes and employment land, albeit its land supply position continues to be challenging following the outcome of a planning appeal requiring combined assessment of the positions for Cherwell’s and Oxford’s needs and also due to the dependency on the rate of housebuilding. Affordable housing completions have decreased slightly although significantly more social rented homes were provided. Although the district has a high level of planning permission, officers will continue to pursue the objectives of the Housing Delivery Action Plan previously approved by the Executive.

Alternative options

Option 1: Deferment to seek significant amendment of the: 2025 Annual Monitoring Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Brownfield Land Register or Regulation 10A Review.

The documents presented comprise technical documents which would support future decision making. They have been prepared to comply with planning legislation and guidance. Professional planning judgement and legal advice has informed the policy review. Monitoring is informed by factual reporting and updating against relevant indicators and requirements, supported by data and research.

Option 2: Not to approve the documents for publication

Production of an Authorities Monitoring Report is a statutory requirement and the AMR’s wider information supports the Local Plan implementation and review. Updating the Brownfield Land Register is also a statutory requirement. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan is required to monitor and support delivery of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 and its Partial Review. The Regulation 10A review is also a statutory requirement as the Partial Review Plan is now five years’ old.