4 Strategy for infrastructure

Establishing a framework for sustainable development

This section is about infrastructure and the environment in Oxfordshire, and the impact of both on the economy. Significant progress has been made in establishing a framework for sustainable development and land-use planning in the County, in particular through:

• Oxfordshire's Structure Plan.
• Local Development Framework.
• Community strategy of Local Strategic Partnerships.

Oxfordshire's Structure Plan

The Oxfordshire Structure Plan to 2016 sets out the County Council’s strategy for the development and use of land in the County. It aims to:

• Sustain prosperity by supporting sustainable and appropriate economic development.
• Encourage the efficient use of energy and land and other natural resources.
• Support progress towards a better quality of life for all Oxfordshire's people.
• Protect and enhance the environment and character of Oxfordshire.

This is the last Structure Plan to be adopted for Oxfordshire. It will be replaced in 2007 by the South East Plan, prepared by South East Regional Assembly, which will provide the strategic framework to guide development across the region. It will cover the period to 2026, and set out how to make the best use of space and resources in the region so that it continues to be economically successful and an attractive place to live. Local Development Framework Each planning authority will prepare a Local Development Framework (LDF) which is similar to a Local Plan and will contain policies and proposals to guide development. The LDF will consist of a number of documents which, together, will set policies for meeting the community's economic, environmental and social aims for the future where this affects the development and use of land.

The types of documents produced as part of the LDF are:

• Statement of community Involvement.
• Core strategy, the vision, objectives and spatial strategy.
• General development control policies.
• Site-specific allocations, main development sites and policy designations.

Community Strategy

The Local Government Act (2000) introduced the concept of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), which are intended to improve partnership working between the various public agencies and with the business and voluntary sectors. Oxfordshire has six LSPs - five based on the district areas (South Oxfordshire Partnership, West Oxfordshire Strategic Partnership, Oxford Strategic Partnership, Cherwell Community Planning Partnership, Vale Strategic Partnership) and the County-wide Oxfordshire Community Partnership (OCP). The major concerns of the Strategy for infrastructure are to:

• Secure investment in infrastructure.
• Ensure that the natural and built environment of the County continue to be an economic asset that contributes to the quality of life and attracts business.
• Take care that rural, market town and urban communities all benefit from the County's overall economic prosperity.