The District Council is currently carrying out a consultation with the public on its latest proposals which they call “Preferred Spatial Options.” The closing date for comments is 22 December 2025, so there is little time to spare.
Probably the most significant aspect of this is a proposal that Stonesfield should be a Tier 3 village. That is the category for large villages, which are deemed to have the facilities and infrastructure which would support “small and medium scale” development. However, “small” means 1-10 residential units and “medium” means 11-50 residential units. Therefore, if the proposal is confirmed, permission could be granted in compliance with planning policy for one or more sites in and on the edge of Stonesfield, each with 50 residential units. The District Council’s current “Housing and Economic Land Assessment” suggests there are three suitable sites just outside the built-up limits of the village of Stonesfield for such “medium” developments.
Stonesfield is situated in the Cotswolds National Landscape which is a statutory Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) dictates that planning authorities have a duty to “conserve and enhance the scenic and landscape beauty” of areas of outstanding natural beauty. In pursuance of this the NPPF says that planning permission should not be granted for “major” development within an AONB unless there are “exceptional circumstances” and granting permission would be “in the public interest.” There are no relevant exceptional circumstances and there is no relevant public interest. Therefore, making Stonesfield a Tier 3 village would risk planning permissions being granted for development flagrantly in breach of the NPPF.
The next relevant category of villages proposed by the District Council to be in the new District Plan is “Medium Villages.” In those the new District Plan would require new developments only where infrastructure capacity exists and to address identified local circumstances and needs. Otherwise, new residential development would typically be expected to be “small scale only.” That means comprising 1-10 units only. That would be in compliance with the NPPF.
You may want to respond to the District Council’s request for reactions to their proposals by writing to them and expressing the view that Stonesfield should be a Tier 4 village and not a Tier 3 village because it does not have the required infrastructure or facilities. For example, there is a single shop and very few sources of employment within the village, limited public transport and therefore, in order to go to work or do the other things which are necessary for everyday living, e.g. shopping, people overwhelmingly have to travel by car. Already, at various times of the day, the approach roads to the village are very heavily trafficked. That all conflicts with the planning requirement for “sustainable development.” Furthermore, you will be aware that the sewage and wastewater infrastructure of the village is creaking and leaking at the seams. You will no doubt think of other reasons why major development would be inappropriate.
You can express your views to the District Council by writing to their Planning Policy Manager at the following addresses or by making comments online via the following website address: –
1. Email address of the WODC Planning Policy Manager: –
Andrew.Thomson@westoxon.gov.uk
We suggest you copy the email to:-
planning.consultation@westoxon.gov.uk
2. Postal address of the Planning Policy Manager: –
The Planning Policy Manager,
West Oxfordshire District Council,
Council Offices,
Woodgreen,
Witney, OX28 1NB.
3. The online link for comments in the consultation process: –
For further information attached is a Sustainable Stonesfield (SuSto) leaflet.
The WODC exhibition boards for the Preferred Spatial Options can be read at: https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/ae0jcxni/local-plan-preferred-spatial-options-consultation-october-2025.pdf