6th December 2024
The independent examiner appointed by South Oxfordshire District Council to review Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan (TNP2) has given the green light for it to proceed to a referendum.
The decision means Thame residents could soon be given the opportunity to decide whether the Neighbourhood Plan becomes part of the District Council’s planning policies.
Following a thorough examination, the independent Examiner praised both the content of the Plan and how residents have been consulted. The Examiner’s report, which can be downloaded here, recommends that the plan, subject to recommended changes, goes forward to referendum. It is expected that the District Council will agree and will start working towards the referendum soon.
More than 50% of all those who vote in the referendum will need to support the Plan, if it is to become a key component of the District Council’s suite of planning policies for Thame.
What’s in the Plan?
The award-winning Thame Neighbourhood Plan was created by the community to preserve the town’s unique character and market town feel. The Plan aims to maintain the town’s close relationship with the open countryside, support local markets, festivals, and events, and ensure Thame remains attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors.
The new Thame Neighbourhood Plan builds on its predecessor by focusing not only on guiding development in new areas but also encouraging positive changes within established parts of the town.
Key provisions include:
- Retention of parking spaces in the Town Centre
- Proposals for a budget supermarket in the Town Centre and a new community centre
- New public parkland and accessible spaces
The Plan addresses Thame’s future housing and employment needs, new open spaces, walking and cycling routes, the future of the Cattle Market, Town Centre parking, and environmental initiatives. Design codes and policies will help shape development in existing areas, ensuring Thame retains its character for future generations.
For example, the Plan ensures the preservation of views from Oxford Road into the countryside at Rycote Meadow and the improvement of walkways to better link the Town Centre.
For more information about the plan, visit the TNP2 web page.
Thame Town Council will provide further information about the referendum once a date has been announced by South Oxfordshire District Council.
