Matthew let me know that there are plans to build 8 flats for emergency housing with associated parking at the old Harcourt Way Tree Nursery. (The plans can be viewed at P14/V0710/FUL ).

The trees (seen to the left of this picture) have had time to get more firmly established , and seeded more trees, since the last time plans were put forward in 2009. That was for 14 flats for emergency housing. On that occasion there was a lot of opposition to the loss of what was considered a nature reserve alongside the Stert not far from Boxhill Walk.

The Vale of White Horse are about to sell Old Abbey House, now that arrangements for Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, and Citizens Advice are finalised.

Their advert says that it has Residential potential subject to achieving the necessary consents, and will be vacant by June 2014.

Unconditional or conditional offers are invited by noon 16/04/14.

Plans for 159 houses in a field south of Abingdon was rejected by the VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) Planning department without even going to committee. The plans were then allowed on appeal by an external inspector so long as some pedestrian traffic lights were installed on Marcham Road and Ock Street, so that traffic in South Abingdon would be no worse than before the houses.

The responses to a consultation on those traffic lights are to be considered at a meeting of the county council’s cabinet member for environment on March 27. The consultation received 125 responses, mostly objections and concerns. The Town Council has objected but not VWHDC.

However the County Council officers are recommending approval, and has not given much weight to all the objections to the scheme. The idea of a trial was also put forward but the County Council officer thinks that would just confuse people.

A new sign has already gone up in front of the field suggesting that the land has now been acquired by the developer who will actually build those houses. Hallam, the company who got the rights to build, are presumably just a specialist is getting planning permission.

It is still for County Councillors to decide, so have Taylor Wimpey jumped the gun?

P.S. VWHDC did object but it did not get into the report. Mindful of the VWHDC objections, The Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet member considered the matter and then indicated that he was minded to reject the application for the lights.

The draft local plan, written in 2013, is having to be revamped to include 7,430 more houses in the Vale area. The Vale of White Horse District Council had an exhibition in the Abingdon Guildhall to start the consultation on these additional proposals. Unfortunately there was some mix up and the Vale planning department had to use the Cloakroom for the exhibition.

The Vale and South Oxfordshire area is predicted to have lots of new jobs and so more houses will be needed.

80% of the houses could go in the South East Vale area: that is Harwell, Milton Heights, and the outskirts of Didcot. 8% could be built in Abingdon.

410 of those could be in North Abingdon.

A further 200 could be in North West Abingdon. This housing would be so close to the A34 they will need noise mitigation measures.

There followed a public meeting. Unfortunately the Roysse Room, was over capacity, and so people had to be turned away. I could not get in so will be interested in comments about the meeting.

There is more information about this consultation at VWHDC Local Plan Part One. You can provide your comments on the updated proposals there until 4pm on 4 April 2014.