Oxford City Council has started work on the new Oxford Local Plan 2040 that will guide Oxford’s development over the next 20 years.

The Local Plan 2040 is a step forward from the Local Plan 2036 that was adopted last year. It will also take into account the Oxfordshire Plan 2050, which will provide a strategic planning framework for all Oxfordshire councils to deliver the homes and infrastructure needed across the county.

The Local Plan 2040 will set out how and where new new homes, jobs and community facilities will be delivered to make Oxford a better place to live, work and visit. It will also protect the world-famous heritage and the parks, green spaces and waterways that make Oxford special.

This is a time of uncertainty and change, with recovery from the pandemic and the climate emergency posing global challenges. Key local issues include meeting the need for more affordable homes and building on Oxford’s international track record in research and innovation to deliver sustainable jobs for future generations.

The council has started to identify issues the Local Plan 2040 could address and wants people to be involved from an early stage in shaping the future of Oxford. It has therefore launched a first round of public consultation to help develop a vision for the next 20 years.

Consultation is now open and will run until 25 August.

The council is delivering consultation questionnaires to every address in Oxford, which can be returned by post.