Town ‘protected from overdevelopment’ as plan passed
An Oxfordshire town has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a neighbourhood plan which will ensure it is “protected from overdevelopment”.
The Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) review was voted on at a referendum on Thursday, February 6, which asked voters to signal whether they think the plan should be used in planning decisions by the district council.
The votes in favour of adopting the plan came out on top, with 93 per cent of the vote and a count of 1413 ballots.
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Just 92 people voted against adoption of the plan, just over six per cent of all votes.
Of all Wallingford’s registered voters, 23 per cent turned out to cast their opinion in the polls.
South Oxfordshire District Councillor for Wallingford, Katherine Keats-Rohan, said: “The referendum result was excellent news.
“It means that our Neighbourhood Plan will carry full weight in the determination of planning applications for the next five years.
“It is residents putting their stamp on how development should work here.”
Wallingford voted in favour of adopting its neighbourhood plan in a referendum on Thursday, February 6 (Image: Contributed) The WNP is designed to provide the district council with planning policies that meet the needs of the town’s growing population and reflects what residents want to see.
It proposes two key initiatives, to build a new medical centre and to define a “built-up area boundary” around the town, to protect the surrounding countryside from development.
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The long-term policy document serves as a planning tool for the future of the town until 2035.
The plan’s detailed 10 chapters cover all aspects of Wallingford’s development, from strategy, design and history to employment, retail and infrastructure.
It was produced by a steering group on behalf of Wallingford Town Council in 2021, and the review document was published this year.
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Co-chairs of the steering group, town councillor Sue Hendrie and Wendy Tobitt, released a joint statement following the win.
They said: “We are very pleased with the referendum result, thanks to everyone who voted on Thursday.
“South Oxfordshire District Council is set to adopt the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan at its meeting on Thursday, February 13.
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“The plan will then be an integral element of the local plan policies and will be used by planners when assessing all planning applications for Wallingford.
“The built-up area boundary is now drawn tightly around the town to prevent sprawling development. The site for a much-needed new medical centre is allocated, so that the GPs and their architects can develop their planning application.”
The Wallingford plan will become part of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Development Plan and will carry full weight in determining planning applications.
