A new future for Chalgrove Airfield Update from the Homes and Communities Agency October 2016
Inside: Creating a connected community Find out more at our ‘drop in’ session Your questions answered
Regional road investment strategy
Since our last newsletter in September, a number of people have asked us about what infrastructure support will be provided for the new community at the Chalgrove Airfield site. Our role in delivering new communities across England means that we understand the vital role that infrastructure provision will play in providing better roads, transport and utilities needed to support growth. We are working to identify what would be needed at the site and the wider area, and the funding required to provide this. Although detailed proposals are still to be formed, local people have already provided us with important information which is being used to help shape these.
green belt employment growth points existing towns and villages highway improvement and traffic mitigation new Bus Rapid Transit
Oxford Science Park
Oxford Business Park
Chalgrove
Culham Science Centre
We have heard how the housing developments already planned for local villages close to Chalgrove will be built without matching investment in infrastructure, and the traffic problems this will cause. 0
5 miles
Proposed infrastructure investment corridors The HCA is looking at an area-wide package of investment of more than £100m in road improvements and public transport in South Oxfordshire to serve the proposed new community at Chalgrove. This • A package of road improvements and new provision at ‘infrastructure first’ approach will also help tackle the traffic Watlington, Benson, Stadhampton and Little Milton. This will problems which local people tell us are set to happen given also play an important role in tackling heavy goods vehicle housing development about to be built in neighbouring villages. traffic that already causes major problems in these villages. HCA’s infrastructure first approach will also play a major role in connecting Chalgrove to, and supporting planned employment David Warburton, HCA head of area, growth at, places like the Oxford Business and Science Parks, said: “We know investment will be and Culham Science Centre. Around 3,600 new jobs are required to ensure that the new planned in these areas over the next 10-15 years. community at Chalgrove is well Any infrastructure would be designed in a way which connected. We will make the resources recognises and preserves the rural character of this part of available to deliver this, as we have South Oxfordshire. done on similar developments. HCA’s package of infrastructure improvements could include: • Investment in a new bus rapid transit route from Chalgrove to serve the major employment growth areas to the south of Oxford, including a route to Culham Science Centre. • Investment to enable delivery of the Clifton Hampden bypass to support major job growth at Culham.
“Local people will play a key role in helping us identify what infrastructure is needed and we are committed to working with them to achieve this.” Find out more about how you can get involved on page 3.
Email: chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk | Facebook www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield | Project website: www.chalgroveairfield.gva.co.uk
Creating a connected community The location of the Chalgrove Airfield site makes it extremely well placed to support the employment growth planned for the south of Oxford and wider South Oxfordshire.
Our infrastructure investment package detailed on page 1 sets out some of the measures we are looking at.
We know that very significant up-front investment in transport and infrastructure is needed and we are committed to providing As this image shows, the Chalgrove Airfield site is around 6.5 miles by road from the major employment growth areas the right support to enable this to happen. located south of Oxford. People who live in the north of the We will continue to work with local people and other City, in places like Summertown, already travel similar distances government bodies to ensure that the new community at the to reach the two main employment growth areas, at the Chalgrove Airfield site is well designed, well connected and southern edge of Oxford. We have given a great deal of thought sustainable. to how the new community at the Chalgrove Airfield site will connect with and support places where future employment Future growth - to the South and South-East Oxford growth is planned. green belt housing sites
• strategic housing • existing allocations • SODC core strategy
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Chalgrove Airfield
Oxford
employment growth points
Thame Oxford Business Park Oxford Science Park
Abingdon
Farringdon
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Culham Science Centre
Chalgrove Watlington
Didcot
Wallingford
Wantage
0
5 miles
Areas of housing and employment growth
Our vision for Chalgrove Airfield The HCA’s vision for Chalgrove Airfield site includes: •
3,500 new and affordable homes as part of a thriving mixed development;
• can Employment space business to invest and grow; • Oxford grow within itsfor urban boundaries. • It can also grow beyond the green belt in places Chalgrove. • Community and leisure facilities, schools and like medical centres; •
Improved open green spaces; and
•
Better infrastructure, improved public transport and cycle routes
Email: chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk | Facebook www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield | Project website: www.chalgroveairfield.gva.co.uk
A new future for Chalgrove Airfield
Find out more at our ‘drop in’ session Local people have an important role in helping to shape proposals for the new community at the Chalgrove Airfield site. We hope you can join us at our ‘drop-in’ session on 1st November at Chalgrove Village Hall, between 4pm and 8pm. Members of the project team will be available to share, listen and discuss the key aspects of the proposed development as we work towards the Enquiry by Design event in January 2017. Don’t worry if you can’t make the ‘drop-in’ event. We will keep you informed via our monthly Newsletter; the project website www.chalgroveairfield.gva.co.uk and on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield. And you can send your comments and questions to our dedicated email address chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk.
An important way to ensure your voice is heard is to take part in the Enquiry by Design briefing in December, and the main event in January. Enquiry by Design is a design and planning workshop that is open to all. Both these events will also be held in Chalgrove Village Hall, with all interests represented to ensure views are heard, debated, understood and the outcomes drawn and tested. The dates are below. Enquiry by Design Briefing 5 December 2016 Enquiry by Design Event 19-23 January 2017
Email: chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk | Facebook www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield | Project website: www.chalgroveairfield.gva.co.uk
Your questions answered Here are answers to some questions you have asked since our last newsletter was distributed. If you have others drop us an email at chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk Q: What are you planning to do at Chalgrove Airfield? A: Having taken ownership from the Ministry of Defence, the HCA wants local people to help shape its plans for the site. HCA’s vision is to create a new community with homes, jobs, schools, local facilities and high quality open space in a way that would open up the land to the public for the first time in more than 70 years. We will continue to provide opportunities for people to get involved. More details can be found in this Newsletter and on our dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield
Q: When are these events? A: We are organising a drop-in session for the public on 1st November, between 4pm and 8pm (see page 3 for more details). We will also be contacting people who have expressed an interest in our Enquiry by Design events, both the briefing on the 5 December, and the main event which will be held over five days from 19 to 23 January 2017. Q: Who can I contact for more information? A: We have a dedicated email address that people can use at chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk. We aim to respond to queries within a week, although detailed questions may take longer to answer.
Q: Why are you proposing to do this here? A: Part of the HCA’s role is to support the delivery of new homes on publicly owned sites which are surplus to requirements. South Oxfordshire needs many more homes than are currently being built in the District. Q: What will you do about the traffic impact? A: We will work with local people and other government bodies to ensure that the new community at Chalgrove will be well designed, well connected and sustainable. As a major landowning government body, we have considerable experience in developments of this nature and regularly work with partners to ensure that the right infrastructure is provided first. These proposals will be discussed with local people through the public engagement events we are holding over the next few months. The Site
Keep in touch: Lead responsibility for the Chalgrove Airfield sites rests with David Warburton, Head of Area at the Homes and Communities Agency.
For further information:
Email: chalgrove@hca.gsi.gov.uk Project website: www.chalgroveairfield.gva.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/chalgroveairfield