Woodstock Community and Infrastructure Delivery Plan Hello everyone. Many thanks to all of you for coming. My name is Tom McCulloch from Community First Oxfordshire. I’m here today with several colleagues. Rachael Riach, Rachel Woods and Hilary Lombard. Plus Jac Mulliner from Terence O’ Rourke planners who is also working on the plan. Community First Oxfordshire has been jointly commissioned by Woodstock TC and Blenheim Estate to consult residents about the current and future needs of the town and help produce this community and infrastructure delivery plan. June 2019

About Community First Oxfordshire Our mission is ‘to help communities help themselves’ Help communities to identify issues that affect them and to find their own solutions Increase participation in community activities and local democratic processes Achieve improved provision of local services and facilities Empower everyone in communities on an equal and inclusive basis

The Aims of Today’s Event Plan overview What’s happened so far Community survey results Q+A 25 minutes Next steps presentations. Taking forward the conversation about: Community projects Housing sites + infrastructure 20 minutes Workshops/ discussions about next steps 75 minutes

The Community and Infrastructure Delivery Plan Talking to the community about the current and future needs of the town NEW HOUSING Making development best work for Woodstock New/ improved infrastructure COMMUNITY Building on all that’s going on Looking into new initiatives Coming together to solve common problems

What’s happened so far…. 3.5 months into a year-long process 5 launch events: 200 + attendees Consultation with 50+ groups Engagement with businesses ongoing Community survey: 500+ responses And more consultation to come….

The Community Survey – April 2019 One consultation method among others Helps establish priorities Community-type issues are important to people as well as more development- specific concerns

Understanding the survey results Rate your answers on a scale of 1-5 1= not important at all (not a priority) and 5= most important (top priority). E.G: an average score of 4.2 indicates most see this being at the upper end of importance

PART 1- Appearance of Woodstock, Community Life and Facilities, Infrastructure + Natural Environment.   HIGHEST SCORES Roads, traffic and parking 4.6 More trees, wildlife planting 4.1 Facilities and opportunities for young people 11-18 3.7 Facilities and opportunities for the elderly Improved cycle paths 3.3 Improved pavements Improved rights of way More cycle paths 381 RESPONDENTS

PART 2- Ideas to improve Woodstock in general.   Highest scores Traffic management Parking Better management of volume of traffic at pinch points 4.5 Blenheim to provide parking inside Hensington Gate 4.2 HGVs Foot and Cycle Paths Restrict/ban HGV traffic on A44 through town 4.3 Alternative footpaths suitable for school children, disabled people and pushchairs to town centre 4.1 381 RESPONDENTS

PART 2- Ideas to improve Woodstock in general.   Highest scores Speed and Safety Traffic Reduction 20mph limit through town centre (Caroline Court to Upper Brook Hill junction) 4.1 Electric car lift scheme for school drop-offs and commuting 3.1 Healthcare provision New doctor’s surgery with parking 4.6 Move the doctor’s surgery to the police station site 4.5 381 RESPONDENTS

PART 2- Ideas to improve Woodstock in general   Highest scores Young people Elderly More facilities/ activities 4 Day Centre 3.9 Library Community groups Develop as a community hub 4.3 Keep Fit 3.2 Leisure facilities Schools Improve Marlborough School sports facilities 4.2 Improve cycle paths and pavements for access to schools 381 RESPONDENTS

Most important considerations Housing type and tenure PART 3- Views about housing development in general   Highest scores Main impacts Most important considerations Roads, traffic and parking 4.9 Communal greens and open spaces 4.5 Traffic management Community life Improve traffic flow on A44 Playground areas for all new developments 4.1 Environment Housing type and tenure Mature tree and hedge planting + open spaces and wildlife areas Include a percentage of affordable housing to ensure mixed community 4.2 381 RESPONDENTS

PART 4- Views about specific new housing sites   Highest scores SE Woodstock East of Woodstock More bus stops 3.7 Hill Rise A44 roundabout access 4 Preserve footpath to Wootton 4.6 Protect ancient pathways in fields Avoid potential loss of community space in Old Woodstock 4.4 381 RESPONDENTS

PART 4- Views about specific new housing sites.   Highest scores Woodstock FC Keep as a green space 4.6 Police station Move surgery to this site 39 RESPONDENTS MADE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT Surgery + parking 16 RESPONDENTS MADE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT 381 RESPONDENTS

COMMUNITY IDEAS FOR ‘BIGGER TICKET INFRASTRUCTURE’ OPINION FROM COMMUNITY SURVEY   DO NOT SUPPORT IDEA New surgery at Police Station site 4.5 / 5 6% Develop new buildings on the library, fire station and police station site for community use  4.2 / 5 7% Develop new library as a community hub 4.3 / 5 3% Indoor swimming pool 3.8 / 5 Multi-storey carpark (200 spaces) at Hensington Road Increase and improve school parking More parking in central Woodstock  3.3 / 5 3.4 / 5 34%  12% 18% Improve Marlborough School sports facilities  1% Community Development Worker for 3 years  3.0 / 5

Questions

All this information…. how can we best deal with it….. Housing site specific ‘Big ticket’ infrastructure More community-focused initiatives + ideas

Next Steps in the Plan… Planning the new sites – community involvement ‘Big Ticket’ Infrastructure – exploring the options Community projects– taking ideas forward and developing an action plan

Helping to masterplan sites in Woodstock

What are the most important considerations regarding the allocated or potential housing development sites? The Survey Said… Average score for each option (most important highlighted): In keeping with local housing character 4.3 Well-connected to existing community 3.9 Modern, innovative structures 2.8 Suitable for the elderly and those with limited mobility 3.8 Adequate outside storage 3.3 Adequate off-street parking 4.4 Communal greens and open spaces 4.5 Landscaping Improved access to countryside 3.6 Affordability of housing 4.2 Low carbon features/build materials 4.0 Facilities for community activities 3.7 A worker/s to support the new development/s and build bridges with the existing community 3.0 Foot and cycle paths 4.1 Biodiversity initiatives  

What now? A masterplan is being prepared for two sites in Woodstock It will take into account the results of the community wide survey There will also be some opportunity to provide further input

What is a Masterplan? A masterplan sets out the design and layout of a site within its context: it forms part of a proposal for how an area of land is developed or changed. There is a lot of guidance out there about how to create a good masterplan; about the process that should be followed and what should be considered. Many agree that involving the local community in the design process makes a more successful masterplan for everyone.

How to be involved… We will hold workshops where we discuss and comment on various themes considered in the masterplaning of a site e.g.: Climate change Considering biodiversity in design The overall aesthetic Connectivity throughout the site Location/distribution of greenspace and buildings Landscaping The information from these discussions would then be used to inform the overall masterplan of the site with a view to adding an important ‘community touch’ to potential new development in Woodstock. There may also be an opportunity to workshop with the consultant masterplanners at some stage.

So…would you like to be involved? We particularly welcome those with creative flair; knowledge/interest in urban design and placemaking; a love of ecology/nature; people aged 16-30 and parents with school age children If you are interested to know more or get involved, please come to the masterplanning workshop after these talks or express an interest on the sign up sheet.

Discussing infrastructure priorities

The Survey said…. What do you think are the main impacts of the allocated or potential housing development sites on Woodstock as a whole? Average score for each option (most important highlighted): Roads, traffic and parking 4.9 Healthcare provision 4.6 Environment 4.4 Community life and facilities 4.2 Schools 4.3 Water and electricity 3.7

How could new development contribute to new/ improved infrastructure? Section 106 Agreements are negotiated between local councils and the developer and used by local councils to require developers to pay for projects to help manage the impact of developments. The most common obligations include: Public Open Space; Affordable Housing; Education; Highways; Town centre improvements; Health; Police; Public art Some Local Planning Authorities have also introduced a CIL levy on new development that is generally a charge linked to the floorspace.

What about the Woodstock housing sites? There are some infrastructure requirements that can be directly designed into new developments themselves (footpaths, recreation facilities, green corridors etc.). However, the s.106 process itself happens during the planning application stage of a development. At present, planning applications have NOT been worked up on Hill Rise or north of Banbury Road. However, Blenheim has appointed consultants to work with them on this (including Woodstock SE should the site be confirmed in the Cherwell Plan).

How can you be involved? The survey results and engagement so far have provided us with some ideas on what infrastructure people think is important. The next step is to discuss, ideas, options, priorities and what is possible within the likely budgets available. If you are interested to know more or get involved, please come to the infrastructure workshop after these talks or express an interest on the sign up sheet.

What does ‘community’ mean to you? What your young people say… A group that works together to make their community a better place Where people work together towards a goal that will benefit everyone When people work together to create a certain environment Where people support and help each other, community means coming together as one What does ‘community’ mean to you?

Coming Together To… Build on all that’s going on Look into new initiatives Come together to solve common problems Put ideas into practice

Community Conversation Celebrating what’s good about Woodstock’s Community Life… 75+ social action, interest groups and organisations 54 businesses and home workers 1400 + regular participants in groups, activities 20 + groups for older people 5 groups for young people 13 sporting groups

From good to better…. Common challenges… Pressure on time Governance issues Getting more people involved How to work better with other groups Funding  

There’s lots more people want to see happen… A range of ideas and projects that people want to take forward…. Environment Encourage alternative energy installations Improved community woodland More trees, wildlife planting Improved access to countryside  

And more… NEW FACILITIES Develop library as a community hub Improve and extend play areas RETAIL + ENTERPRISE Promotion for town enterprise/businesses Campaign to make Woodstock a ‘foodie’ destination Address commercial viability of Woodstock via a ‘summit’ of stakeholders    

And more! NEW COMMUNITY GROUPS New organisations – lots of ideas…. Promote healthy walks and walking groups Encourage (campaign for) younger people to join clubs ROAD SAFETY 20mph zone Traffic calming  

What’s needed to put all these ideas into action? Build on what’s already happening Build new relationships to solve common problems Set up working groups to make these things happen Develop an action plan CFO can support and help….

First steps – today’s workshop Talk to each other: shared interests, concerns and ideas Explore solutions: common issues specific to social action and interest groups Identify potential projects and leaders: what and who?

And after today? Keep the momentum going Come together again Invite others Put a structure in place to make make things happen Again, CFO can support and help….

What your young people say is important to them… Working together in groups to make the community a better place Working together towards a goal that will benefit everyone Working together to create a certain environment Supporting and helping each other, coming together as one…

Comment anytime… woodstockplan@communityfirstoxon.org