1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Questions

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

20. 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

21. Helping to masterplan sites in Woodstock

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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 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.

27. Discussing infrastructure priorities

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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).

31. 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.

32. 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?

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

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

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

36. 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

37. 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  

38. 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

39. 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….

40. 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?

41. 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….

42. 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…

43. Comment anytime… woodstockplan@communityfirstoxon.org