The Road to Adoption

During 2019 there was a change in the political leadership of SODC resulting in the intervention of the Secretary of State and considerable delays to the preparation and adoption of the Local Plan LP2034. As a consequence, on 27 February 2020, the Examiner modified the already submitted WNP by removing three of the proposed Village Enhancements in eastern Wheatley. In the absence of an adopted Local Plan these proposals were considered inappropriate as they required Green Belt release. A fourth proposed Enhancement in Littleworth, requiring no Green Belt release, was not modified.  In December 2020, 10 months after Examination, SODC and the Secretary of State reached agreement and the Local Plan, now LP2035, was adopted. Following Examination, the WNP was submitted to Referendum on 06 May, 2021, and ‘Made’ by a large majority of Wheatley and Holton residents.