Delivering growth and prosperity
The proposal directly links the growth plan to Oxford’s science, research, technology and innovation clusters, using them as engines for wider regional prosperity. This includes world-class universities, research and development hubs, engineering centres and advanced manufacturing assets.
Benefits to residents and businesses
More investment flowing into local jobs, research and high-value industries.
Stronger partnerships between councils and business clusters as the councils will be the right size to leverage influence and remain focused.
A wider economic impact beyond Oxford City into market towns and rural areas
Coherent economic geographies that accelerate growth
The new unitaries are built around real economic corridors: all rail routes and the A34, M4, A40, A44, A420, M40, forming a functional geography that businesses use. This would lead to better-targeted investment in transport links and infrastructure, planning and housing decisions aligned with job locations and less fragmentation, faster decisions and clearer strategic leadership.
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Two balanced councils create the right building blocks for the Mayoral Strategic Authority, unlocking powers and funding that districts and counties can’t access alone. This would deliver faster delivery of new transport schemes, including rail, bus and road upgrades. More control over skills, education and apprenticeship programmes and greater ability to secure government investment packages
Planning and Development
A single planning system within each new unitary will provide clearer strategic oversight, better alignment with growth priorities and stronger capacity for long-term place-making for each area. Each council will be big enough to deliver the growth and infrastructure we need but small enough to tailor plans to local needs. By streamlining policies and decision-making the councils could achieve greater consistency, speed and effectiveness.
Accelerated housing and regeneration to support economic growth
The proposal aims to increase the supply of affordable and market housing through unified planning, combined land assets and Oxford City Council’s housing delivery tools (HRA and OxPlace). This would mean more affordable homes close to jobs, reduced homelessness pressures, better housing options for key workers and more attractive locations for employers.
A joined-up approach to planning, infrastructure and transport
Spatial planning, transport policy and development control would become integrated within each new unitary, coordinated with the Mayoral Strategic Authority. The councils would deliver faster planning decisions, better infrastructure delivery (roads, utilities, digital connectivity), more certainty for developers and investors and reduced bottlenecks that currently slow down business expansion.
Strong local leadership and more responsive place-based economic planning
The two councils are designed around localities, giving market towns, villages and the city meaningful input into economic priorities while operating at a scale large enough to deliver. Local economic challenges (e.g., rural connectivity, town centre decline) can be tackled with tailored solutions and there will be a strong local identity built into growth planning.