CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE – January 14, 2009

ECO TOWN WILL DAMAGE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS FOR
BICESTER AND KIDLINGTON

*Eco town proposals clearly not the best option for growth

An independent report to examine the economic and social impacts of a
potential eco town at Weston Otmoor concludes that the development would
compete with Bicester and Kidlington, rather than compliment their
future growth.

 While the report also recognises some scope for the proposals to help
expand the local economy and offer more housing, it suggests a new town
at Weston Otmoor would adversely effect the future of its two largest
neighbouring settlements. 

According to the report, by Arup & Partners, there is potential for
substantial growth in housing and employment in Bicester. But if the
housing and employment proposals at Weston Otmoor are combined with
existing plans they provide capacity for growth far in excess of
existing anticipated demand in the local area.

The scale of growth envisaged by the eco town proposals mean the
development will both absorb and displace growth - taking it away from
the areas which had been earmarked for improvement.

Authors of the report said it was not clear that the Weston Otmoor Eco
Town proposals were either the only or the best option for meeting
growth objectives in this part of Oxfordshire.

The following likely outcomes were highlighted by the report:

* The eco town attracting existing activity and planned growth,
with potentially adverse effects on growth in Bicester and Kidlington.
* Bicester failing to realise its vision, becoming less
sustainable as economic activities decline.
* The eco town not necessarily developing in the timescales
suggested.
* Employment growth lagging behind housing growth with no prospect
of a balance in the short term.
* The ability of the eco town to increase demand in the local
market - e.g. by offering substantial quantities of affordable housing.

The report also offers evidence and argument for protecting the
development of Bicester and suggests that there is 'substantial capacity
for further growth of housing and employment' in and around the existing
town.

Paul Lovejoy, SEEDA's Director of Strategy, said: "This study provides a
comprehensive and independent assessment of the proposed Weston Otmoor
Eco Town.   It shows that Weston Otmoor could pose a range of possible
threats to the economic development of Bicester.  It also casts doubt on
the deliverability of the proposed economic development at the Eco Town
itself.  We remain sceptical about whether the Weston Otmoor Eco Town
proposals are the right solution but will continue to work with
Oxfordshire and Cherwell to find appropriate ways to achieve the future
success of Bicester and the whole Oxfordshire Diamond for Investment and
Growth, while remaining committed to securing low carbon development. "

Keith Mitchell, Leader of Oxford County Council, said: "In my opinion
there has been a cavalier approach to the future of Bicester throughout
the eco-town process. The County Council and Cherwell District Council
very quickly came to the conclusion that the Weston-Otmoor proposed
eco-town would have a severely detrimental impact on the development of
Bicester and we have consistently and continually made that point. It
comes as no surprise to me that this report has confirmed that the
impact on Bicester, as well as Kidlington, would be disastrous. This
report represents yet another real blow for the Weston-Otmoor eco-town
proposal."

Barry Wood, Leader of Cherwell District Council has welcomed the report,
which reinforces concerns voiced by the council since plans for the
Weston eco town were unveiled in April: "It's reassuring to know that
this independent study support our concerns. We have said Weston Otmoor
was bad news for Bicester right from the start. This report confirms all
of our concerns, and provides support for the view that the best way to
improve the social and economic make up of the area is to follow through
with the existing and planned future development of Bicester and
Kidlington."

"The long term development of Bicester has been carefully planned by
Cherwell. Building an enormous new town on its fringes could mean
Bicester becomes a Cinderella town - forever in the shadow of its shiny
new neighbour and I'm not prepared for that to happen," said Councillor
Wood.

The report was jointly commissioned by the South East England
Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell
District Council, and funded by the Department for Communities and Local
Government (CLG).



ENDS