Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Summary

To receive an update on the development of the Banbury Masterplan.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To receive the update presentation.

(2)               Offer comments to WYG in response to the presentation.

Resolved

(1)               That the Banbury Masterplan update presentation be noted.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report which provided an update on the development of the Banbury Masterplan.

Gordon Lewis of WYG, the consultants appointed by Cherwell District Council to prepare a Masterplan for Banbury, gave a presentation which updated Executive on progress being made with the development of the Masterplan. Since the endorsement of the Conceptual Plan by Executive in October 2012, WYG had begun the drafting of the full Masterplan to set out the infrastructure needs of the town including future education, health, green infrastructure and leisure requirements.

The Banbury Masterplan would assist with the completion of the Local Plan for the District having considered the issues facing the development of the town as a whole in depth. It would show potential phasing of development to illustrate how key development areas might best be delivered. As part of the preparation of the Masterplan additional studies were being undertaken to inform its content and to act as evidence for the Local plan including a) a movement assessment, b) additional landscape analysis.

It was intended that the Banbury Masterplan would be adopted as part of the Development Plan process after adoption of the Local Plan.

In considering the report and presentation Members expressed their gratitude to officers and the consultants for the work undertaken on the draft Banbury Masterplan.

In response to Members’ queries regarding the Banbury Transport Study, Gordon Lewis explained that the Banbury Movement Strategy would be a companion report to the Masterplan and would address traffic issues. Consultation on the Strategy would take place in tandem with the Masterplan.

Resolved

(1)               That the Banbury Masterplan update presentation be noted.

Reasons

A Masterplan to guide the future development of Banbury is in preparation. It is considering future employment needs and how the town centre might be further strengthened; the potential for major transport improvements and how the integration of new communities with the existing town to form ‘one’ town might best be secured.

The Banbury Masterplan will be used to provide the detailed underpinning for the Banbury chapter of the Local Plan for the District due for Examination in 2013.

Options

Option One:               To take no actions

Option Two:               To accept the recommendation

Option Three:             To continue with a piecemeal approach to development that fails to ensure integration with the existing town or to ensure that opportunities are realised for the benefit of residents and businesses in Banbury.