19th February 2026
It has been just over one year since Thame residents voted “Yes” and ensured that the revised Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP2) became part of the local development plan. Its policies and text was heavily influenced by the views of Thame residents and their vision of the town they wanted to live in. Since its adoption some 161 planning applications have been before the Town Council and, where appropriate, these have been considered against the policies and guidance within it.
About 45% of the applications submitted over the past year have been relatively minor, such as for house extensions or checking development was permitted development. The majority of these were thoughtfully designed and compliant with good, basic design rules but where not, TNP2 policy and its design guidance can and have been applied. The first use of TNP2 policy by the District, for example, was to require the reduction of an overly large house extension that would have been out of place among its neighbours.
TNP2 is required to be positive about development and guide applicants towards schemes and designs that residents will welcome, or at the very least find less objectionable. Its policies do, however, have the strength to prevent the most inappropriate schemes from being granted permission. For example, over the past year there have been 4 planning appeals decided where TNP2 policy was quoted by the Planning Inspectors as being reasons for refusal. These include a scheme for 21 homes off Queens Road and an application testing the principle of placing 3 homes in Moreton.
The Town Council will continue to promote the use of TNP2 and its design guidance to applicants and act as the guardian of Thame’s neighbourhood plan when considering responses to planning applications.
To view TNP2 documents and a timeline of how it was developed, visit the TNP2 webpage.
