People living in Oxford could have more control over transport measures in the city for the first time in 50 years as plans to create a new council with expanded boundaries are unveiled.
Surrounding villages such as Kidlington and Botley could fall under the new Oxford boundaries being proposed which would expand onto green belt land including the so-called Kidlington Gap which has proved divisive among locals.
The government’s plans to simplify local councils and abolish two-tier authorities means that Oxfordshire could be split into one, two or three unitary councils.
Unitary councils control all council services including transport, planning, housing and social care, rather than splitting them between the county council and district councils.
Oxford City Council is pushing for the three-council option, which would include a ‘Greater Oxford Council’ covering the city and its green belt.
The authority published a map of what this council could look like, which shows that surrounding villages, including Kidlington, Kennington, Botley, Berinsfield and Wheatley, would come under Greater Oxford Council.
The city council say this would allow more than 40,000 new homes to be built within Greater Oxford by 2040.
It added that this could create up to 29,100 new jobs by building more research, development and commercial spaces, which would generate up to £2 billion a year for the UK economy.
The proposal would also give Oxford residents control of its green belt – which was created in 1975 – for the first time as it lies outside of the city’s boundaries at the moment.
Leader of Oxford City Council, Susan Brown, said that splitting services between multiple councils in Oxfordshire was “confusing for residents” and that it means “decisions affecting the Greater Oxford area can be made by councillors from Chipping Norton or Henley”.
She added: “Greater Oxford will bring local decisions under one roof and closer to the people they affect – helping us build more affordable homes, provide new bus connections, protect green spaces and enhance biodiversity, and create new, secure jobs for our children and grandchildren.
“Our proposals will bring better services and help make Greater Oxford a fairer place to live, work and visit.”
Under the city council’s proposals, there would be a Northern Oxfordshire Council covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts, and a Ridgeway Council covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Districts combined with the West Berkshire unitary.
Greater Oxford would cover a region with a population of about 240,000 people today, which the city council say would rise to about 345,000 by 2040.
The council also estimates that Northern Oxfordshire would have 265,000 today and is expected to have 340,000 in 2040, while Ridgeway Council would have 430,000 today and is expected to have 545,000 in 2040.
An Oxford City Council spokesperson said: “The government has been clear that 500,000 is a guide and that cases to make an exception to this number will be considered. We believe there is an exceptional case to be made for Oxford.”
The city council says it will carry out public engagement on its proposals in June and July, including public events in Berinsfield, Botley, Kennington, Kidlington and Wheatley.
Following the public engagement, the city council will draw up its final Greater Oxford proposals, which will be submitted to the government in November.
The government will make a final decision on local government reorganisation in 2026, and new councils are expected to be created in 2028. The last time local government was reorganised in Oxfordshire was in 1974.
Watch Leader of Oxford City Council, Susan Brown make the case for a Greater Oxford Council
View an interactive map showing the proposed Greater Oxford Council and the Green Belt.
