AFTER 10 years of planning, the document that will guide the delivery of 22,840 homes across Cherwell has been agreed.

Cherwell District Council councillors adopted the plan following the Government inspector’s response.

The document will act as a major blueprint outlining sites for development and employment space in the district up to 2031.

Cherwell District Council lead member for planning Michael Gibbard said: “It has taken ten years of preparation, 18 months of scrutiny and thousands of officer hours but we are delighted to now be in a position where we have an up-to-date Local Plan.

“This document will guide all planning applications over the next 16 years and, coupled with the fact we have a five-year land supply, will effectively put an end to speculative applications which contravene our preferred sites for development.”

“The plan signifies an important step in Cherwell’s future as it will give us full control over the expansion of the district without being open to interpretation by opportunistic developers.”

The Local Plan will now be immediately implemented as a guide for where 10,129 homes should go in Bicester and a further 7,319 homes in Banbury. It also earmarks 2,361 homes at the former RAF site in Upper Heyford and 3,031 elsewhere in the district.

It also outlines 138.5 hectares of employment land in Bicester and 61 hectares in Banbury.

Government inspector Nigel Payne examined the document and held a three-week hearing to consider the views of residents and organisations.