• Government proposes increase in number of houses to be built in Cherwell by 2026
• Concern from Cherwell District Council over identifying suitable sites
• Council reinforces commitment to provide high quality and affordable housing

Modifications to the South East Plan show proposals to increase Cherwell's housing requirement from an original recommendation of building 590 homes each year (between 2006 to 2026) to 670 per year. This is higher than an independent panel's recommendation of 640 per year and a difference of 1600 dwellings in total to that originally proposed. The Council is concerned that the increase will make it even more difficult to find suitable land that can de delivered without unacceptable impacts.

The Government is suggesting that additional homes be provided at Bicester, increasing the number of new homes planned for the town from 4300 to 4900 between 2006 and 2026. This is on top of the panel's recommendation for more development to be provided at Banbury. The Council has estimated that Banbury's requirement has increased from some 3,800 homes to about 4,800 . The total for the district is now 13,400.

Councillor Michael Gibbard, portfolio holder for housing and planning is concerned the proposals present the Council with a challenge of identifying yet more suitable sites for new housing. He explains:"We are at a crucial stage in preparing our Local Development Framework, which has to identify specific sites to accommodate housing growth requirements in the SE Plan.

"Cherwell already faces challenging housing requirements and it's likely we will need to find land for at least three major urban extensions across the district over the next 20 years. This is over and above land that has already been identified for development. The Government's proposals for a further 600 houses at Bicester, on top of the extra 1000 already recommended for Banbury, increase the pressures on the District.

"These proposals are particularly unwelcome in light of the suggestion of an eco-town for Cherwell. We will be making our views clear to the Government, but if we do have to provide these new homes, high quality development must be provided with high levels of affordable housing."

Cherwell District Council will consider the government's proposals and its impact on the local development framework at its executive meeting on 4 August 2008.