The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval to advertise the Council’s intention to appropriate land (change the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council) at the Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road to facilitate the Blackbird Leys Development Project. The intent to appropriate relates to land owned by Oxford City Council only.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.     Approve the public notification process to consider the proposal to exercise the Council’s powers to appropriate land in its ownership at Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road (see plan at Appendices 1 & 2) (“the Land”) to planning purposes;

2.     Approve the publishing of a notice in a local newspaper for two weeks consecutively expressing the Council’s intention to appropriate the Land in accordance with section 122 Local Government Act 1972 to planning purposes so as to rely on section 203-205 Housing and Planning Act 2016. This is necessary to facilitate Phase 1 of the Blackbird Leys Development Project.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek approval to advertise the Council’s intention to appropriate land (change the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council) at the Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road to facilitate the Blackbird Leys Development Project. The intent to appropriate related to land owned by Oxford City Council only.

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Manager, reported that the Blackbird Leys development was an ambitious project which would provide new affordable housing, a new community centre, and an improved retail offer (subject to a successful planning application).  Councillor Turner clarified that the proposal before Cabinet related to re-designation of land which was already in its ownership, in order to enable development.  The legal process required prior advertisement of the Council’s intention to appropriate the land.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Approve the public notification process to consider the proposal to exercise the Council’s powers to appropriate land in its ownership at Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road (see plan at Appendices 1 & 2) (“the Land”) to planning purposes;

2.      Approve the publishing of a notice in a local newspaper for two weeks consecutively expressing the Council’s intention to appropriate the Land in accordance with section 122 Local Government Act 1972 to planning purposes so as to rely on section 203-205 Housing and Planning Act 2016. This is necessary to facilitate Phase 1 of the Blackbird Leys Development Project.