Cholsey parish includes approximately 1810 homes and has a population of 4,380. The parish lies on the northern side of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and adjoins the western side of the Chilterns AONB. The village is located 14 miles from Reading and 17 miles from Oxford. 

Lepus represented Cholsey Parish Council at EiP as an expert witness for the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) that was undertaken as part of the plan-making process. The examination was small scale and focused on the plan makers’ selection of housing numbers and spatial strategy. One large proposed development site dominated the hearings with one party pressing the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) to increase the overall housing allocation number.

The SA report, which included the requirements of the SEA Directive, identified the likely positive and negative effects of the plan. A key challenge related to landscape impacts in relation to nationally important landscapes: the Chilterns AONB and North Wessex Downs AONB. The SA recommended that the setting of the two AONBs must be carefully explored in more detail to better understand the landscape impact of the plans proposals. Commitment to green infrastructure, associated green space and design principles that help integrate the new build with the existing settlement were considered to be positive measures promoted by the plan.  

The plan was found sound and successfully ‘made’ by the Parish Council in April 2019. The plan will in due course form part of the Local Plan for South Oxfordshire District Council, once the District Council are in a position to progress their Local Plan.