Residents in villages set to join a new Greater Oxford authority have raised concerns over representation, housing growth and the future of the green belt following the government’s local government reorganisation decision.
Wheatley residents voice fears over new Greater Oxford authority
Villagers near Oxford have expressed anger and uncertainty over plans to create a new Greater Oxford Council, with some residents warning that the move could lead to unwanted development and a loss of local identity.
The government announced this week that Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will be reorganised into three unitary authorities, replacing the existing county, city and district councils from April 2028.
The new structure will create Northern Oxfordshire, Ridgeway – covering Southern Oxfordshire and West Berkshire – and Greater Oxford, which will include Oxford city alongside around 21,000 residents living in 25 surrounding villages.
Among those villages is Wheatley, around six miles east of Oxford, where residents have voiced mixed views on the proposed changes.
Some have welcomed the possibility of a more joined-up approach to housing and services, while others fear rural communities could lose their voice within a larger city-focused authority.
Concerns over village identity and green belt
Wheatley resident Tim Davis, whose family has lived in the village for around 300 years, said he was concerned that villages would not receive adequate representation under Greater Oxford.
He said the character of communities could be threatened by future development decisions, particularly around protected green spaces.
“You need separate villages,” he said.
Philip Hickman, of Hickman’s Butchers in Wheatley, also questioned whether a city-led authority would understand the challenges facing rural communities.
He raised concerns about infrastructure pressures, including roads, waste collection and the impact of additional housing.
“The infrastructure is not here for it,” he said.
“Bringing more people to the area and building more houses – it just won’t work.”
Other residents expressed fears that green belt land could become vulnerable to development.
Donna Foster described the plans as an “absolute disgrace”, saying she believed village concerns could be overlooked.
“Even if you did say anything, they’d still ignore you and go ahead with it,” she said.
Supporters argue change could improve services
Not all residents oppose the move.
David De Roure, who is moving from East Oxford to Wheatley, said he saw potential benefits from removing layers of local government.
“I have a sense that that could be better,” he said, suggesting a single authority could provide a more coordinated approach.
Monica Horwood, who has lived in the area for around 60 years, also believes villages could benefit from greater support.
“These places are quite big now and they’re not little villages anymore and they need support,” she said.
Oxford City Council defends Greater Oxford plans
Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said the new authority would help address challenges including housing affordability and service delivery.
“We need to make sure that we can provide people with much more affordable housing, and this is the way to do it,” she said.
She rejected suggestions that the move represented the city taking control of neighbouring communities, saying villages would have a stronger voice through increased representation.
“This isn’t somehow the city taking over other areas,” she said.
Ms Brown added that the majority of the green belt would remain protected.
“The vast majority of the very large green belt would be untouched,” she said.
Major change ahead for Oxfordshire residents
The creation of Greater Oxford will mark one of the biggest changes to local government in Oxfordshire’s history, with decisions made over the coming years expected to shape housing, transport, planning and public services across the region.
For communities such as Wheatley, the debate centres on whether the new structure will deliver greater influence and investment – or whether rural voices risk being lost within a larger urban authority.
Reporting contribution by Isabella Harris, Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Oxfordshire, covering local politics, council meetings and planning decisions across six councils in the county.
