Connect with us

Oxford News

Didcot – Appeal lodged over controversial 200-home plans

Published

on


As well as the homes, developer Obsidian Strategic also wants to build a special education needs school on the land to the north-eastern edge of the town.

The proposed development would be part of the Garden Town project, which will result in 15,050 homes and 20,000 high tech jobs delivered in the greater Didcot area.

The scheme was refused by South Oxfordshire District Council earlier this year.

The development attracted objections from 18 people, as well as Long Wittenham Parish Council, Didcot Town Council, Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire, Didcot Garden Town Team and Wittenham Against Over Development.

Objector Janet Haylett, of Westfield Road, previously said: “Over the past few years we have watched as Didcot has marched towards us with estates of Monopoly houses and already taken over a significant part of the parish.”

200-home site plan (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council)

READ MORE: Bicester – Plans revealed for six new padel courts at garden centre

The planning officer’s report said: “Weighing against the development, it would permanently change the strong undeveloped rural character of the site, extending the town of Didcot east of Lady Grove Road into the parish of Long Wittenham.

“It would substantially reduce the gap between Didcot, Long Wittenham and the National Landscape, and would not protect and enhance the landscape, countryside and rural character.

“In conclusion, it is considered that the adverse impacts of the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

“The scheme therefore fails to represent sustainable development, and the material considerations outlined above do not justify making a decision other than in accordance with the development plan.”

The developer has now appealed the decision and the Planning Inspectorate will hold an inquiry on October 7 this year.

In the appeal’s documents, it said: “The appellant’s case is that the council cannot demonstrate a sufficient supply of deliverable housing land and that as such, the most important policies in the development plan for determining the application the subject of this appeal (i.e., those for the supply of land) are out-of-date; and that the appeal proposal represents sustainable development which should be acceptable in any event.

“The appeal proposals will deliver new market and affordable housing, which are much needed to help meet the strategic growth requirements of South Oxfordshire.

“The provision for a SEND school will also provide a clear benefit.

“The appeal proposals will further deliver significant environmental enhancement of the site and will demonstrably provide a biodiversity net gain to the area and an improved landscape edge to the north east of Didcot.

“The appeal proposals will deliver economic benefits for the area including the provision of new jobs both during the construction and operation of the development and also by way of increased levels of spending locally through the introduction of new households.”





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Oxford News

Manhunt for Arsenal fan amid London credit card fraud probe

Published

on


Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image of a man they are searching for in relation to money reportedly being fraudulently withdrawn in Oxfordshire, Ascot and London.

The force said that on May 20, the suspected offender obtained the bank card and PIN number of the victim, a woman in her 20s, which were being posted to her address.

READ MORE: Launch date for new Oxford ‘traffic filter’ scheme announced

They then proceeded to withdraw thousands of pounds from the victim’s account over the next 12 days, before the woman became aware and blocked the card.

The money was withdrawn from cash machines at several locations, including NatWest, TSB and Nationwide branches in Witney, HSBC in Chiswick, Nationwide in Oxford, and cash machines at Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Ascot.

Police are searching for this man in relation to a credit card fraud probe (Image: TVP)

This was between 20 May and 1 June 2026.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable David Mathieson, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity at the cash machines between the dates we are investigating, or has information that may assist us to please get in touch.

READ MORE: Drug and car seized from ‘illegal’ Kia motorist in Oxfordshire town

“If you recognise the man in the image, or if this is you, please contact us.

“Anyone with information should call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting crime reference number 43260273378.

“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

“If you suspect your card or account has been compromised, contact your bank immediately.”





Source link

Continue Reading

Oxford News

Ludwig BBC detective drama second series date announced

Published

on


Comedian David Mitchell stars as John “Ludwig” Taylor, a reclusive puzzle designer who assumes the identity of his twin brother – a detective chief inspector – after he goes missing.

The hit series also features Motherland’s Anna Maxwell Martin, with Fleabag star Sian Clifford and Scottish actor Mark Bonnar joining the cast as regulars in the second series which is due to be broadcast in August, with a third series already commissioned.

READ MORE: Ludwig creator reveals secret of series success

The detective drama set in Cambridge is one of the BBC’s most successful in terms of viewing figures for many years.

Mr Mitchell has strong Oxfordshire connections – he grew up in Oxford where he enjoyed watching Inspector Morse on ITV, and was a pupil at Abingdon School.

David Mitchell in Ludwig (Image: BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney)

The BBC has confirmed that Ludwig will return for its second series later this month, with all six episodes to be released as a box set on iPlayer from the same date.

The newly confirmed release date is Thursday, August 20 at 9pm on BBC One, confirming what the BBC had previously teased only as an August 2026 return.

Perhaps an added bonus for fans is that, rather than waiting week by week, they will be able to binge the entire box set on iPlayer as soon as the opening episode airs.

David Mitchell returns in his role as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, now working officially as a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority, teaming up with DCI Russell Carter on seemingly “impossible” crimes.

No longer masquerading as James, he is “more Ludwig than ever”, brilliant at puzzles but hopeless at almost everything else – the fate of his brother, though, still eludes him.

Returning alongside Mitchell are Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor.

The new series also introduces new faces, including Mark Bonnar (Guilt, Line of Duty) as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher and Sian Clifford (Fleabag) as local MP Joanne Kemper.

Ben Ashenden and Rumi Sutton co-star as DC Ethan Cole and DC Caitlin Sullivan respectively.

The BBC will be hoping to repeat the runaway success of the first series.

Ludwig launched in 2024 to strong reviews and sizeable audiences, drawing more than 9.5 million viewers and ranking among the BBC’s biggest scripted hits of the year, according to the Radio Times.

It also earned a 97 per cent score on reviews site Rotten Tomatoes, cementing its reputation as a quirky detective drama with puzzles at the heart of the plot.

Mark Brotherhood is the series creator.





Source link

Continue Reading

Oxford News

UK charity Oxfam launches new rental service for clothes

Published

on



The UK charity, which has more than 500 stores nationwide, launched the pilot in early August, making it the first time a national UK charity had offered clothing rental alongside its retail shops.

Customers can hire selected donated garments for 14 days, with prices starting at £22.

The launch collection features vintage items, including a Balenciaga dress, a Stella McCartney jacket, and a Dolce & Gabbana dress.

Oxfam launches new rental service for clothes in first for sector

Julie Tyrell, head of ecommerce and retail sustainability at Oxfam, said: “We see pieces come through our shops that you simply won’t find anywhere else, and until now the only way to own one was to buy it outright.

“Rental means people can access that wardrobe for the moment they need it and then not let it sit in a cupboard afterwards.”

The clothing is cleaned and prepared before being sent to customers, who return it at the end of the rental period for reuse.

Oxfam developed the service with fashion rental and fulfilment company ACS, which is providing its operational infrastructure.

Anthony Burns, chief operating officer at ACS, said the partnership showed how circular retail models could deliver environmental and social benefits.

Income generated by the service will support Oxfam’s charitable work.

The pilot launched ahead of Oxfam’s annual Second-Hand September campaign, which encourages people to buy pre-owned clothing instead of new items.

UK charities closing stores

In other news for the charity sector, others are closing sites across the country.

Cancer Research UK is in the process of shutting stores as it works to reduce the size its our core high street chain to around 320 high-performing shops.

It revealed previously that it would be closing around 90 shops by May this year, with up to 100 more by April 2027.  

Its online marketplace shut down earlier this year, and the charity is now shifting focus toward 12 new out-of-town superstores.

Meanwhile, the British Heart Foundation announced plans to close 150 of its charity shops across the UK, representing nearly a quarter of its 640 total locations.


Recommended reading:


The closures will happen over a two-year period due to rising operating costs and a drop in net profits.

Around 90 shops are scheduled to shut down by the end of March 2027, with the first 87 specific branch locations already publicly identified.

The remaining targeted stores will close by March 2028.

Do you shop at local charity shops? If so, what is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending