S Oxon ordered to continue local plan

The Government has ordered South Oxfordshire District Council to take its emerging local plan through public examination and adoption by the end of the year. The decision could safeguard £218m of Government Housing Infrastructure Fund grant for new roads in and around Didcot. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick intervened in the local plan process last October, preventing the council from withdrawing its emerging local plan from examination (LTT 25 Oct 19). The document was drawn up by the Conservative administration that lost control of the council last May and the new Liberal Democrat/Green administration opposes some of the plan’s housing proposals. In accepting Jenrick’s direction this month, South Oxfordshire has asked him to finalise the funding package for the Didcot Garden Town HIF bid as soon as possible “and ensure it includes appropriate sustainable walking and cycling infrastructure”.