South Oxfordshire Leader on the government’s strategic planning proposals 

The Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council has spoken about the government’s proposal for new regional strategic planning areas announced yesterday. 

The government launched a consultation on proposals for its plans for new Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) areas across England and is asking local councils to comment.  

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We do not agree that Swindon is a good fit for our area – it has completely different economic and demographic challenges and needs. We will be submitting a full response to the Government’s consultation and will continue to work with partners across Oxfordshire and the wider area to ensure that any future arrangements genuinely reflect how our communities, transport links, and local economy work.” 

“I hope this announcement encourages our colleagues at Buckinghamshire Council to join conversations about a potential strategic authority area in the Thames Valley. The SDS proposals are not necessarily the same as a Strategic Authority area, but the proposal to include Buckinghamshire in a possible SDS area means it would be very valuable to have them at the table when we discuss what our future Strategic Authority area might be.”