The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval to appropriate land (change the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council from one function to another) currently held for public open space purposes at the Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road to be held in future for planning purposes to facilitate the Blackbird Leys Development Project. The appropriation relates to land owned by Oxford City Council only.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Note that following the statutory public notification process of the Council’s intention to appropriate the Land to planning purposes, no representations have been received; and

2.       Approve the appropriation of  land in the Council’s ownership at Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road (see plan at Appendices 1 & 2) (“the Land”), to planning purposes, so as to facilitate its future development for new housing (per planning application number 23/00405/OUTFUL) in accordance with section 122 Local Government Act 1972 and further, thereby, rely on section 203-205 Housing and Planning Act 2016 to permit the development of the Land to proceed. 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 appropriate land (change the statutory basis on which it is held by the Council from one function to another) currently held for public open space purposes at the Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road to be held in future for planning purposes to facilitate the Blackbird Leys Development Project. The appropriation related to land owned by Oxford City Council only.

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Management, reported that following the resolution of Cabinet at its June meeting the statutory public notification process of the Council’s intention to appropriate the land for planning purposes had been undertaken.  No representations had been received.  Approval was therefore now sought for the appropriation, which would allow the important Blackbird Leys development project to proceed.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Note that following the statutory public notification process of the Council’s intention to appropriate the Land to planning purposes, no representations have been received; and

2.        Approve the appropriation of  land in the Council’s ownership at Blackbird Leys District Centre and Knights Road (see plan at Appendices 1 & 2) (“the Land”), to planning purposes, so as to facilitate its future development for new housing (per planning application number 23/00405/OUTFUL) in accordance with section 122 Local Government Act 1972 and further, thereby, rely on section 203-205 Housing and Planning Act 2016 to permit the development of the Land to proceed. This is necessary to facilitate Phase 1 of the Blackbird Leys Development Project.