Oxfordshire Village Residents Criticize Plan for 115 New Homes

Lioncourt wants to build homes near Witney, in North Leigh. They applied for permission to build there. The plan includes open spaces like parks and allotments. There would also be playgrounds for kids.

Many people object, including the North Leigh Parish Council. They noted 181 new homes already exist in North Leigh, and another 122 homes were approved, but not yet built. In 2021, North Leigh had 881 properties.

The council says this new plan increases the village size a lot, a 10.2% increase over the 2021 number. North Leigh has limited services available to residents. There are two pubs, but one closes often.

The library is only open for eleven hours each week. The post office is inside a small shop, and a small business park exists on the edge of town.

The council feels the new homes don’t fit the village. They said it’s too dense and crowded, and residents don’t want more big developments.

The NHS also commented on the planned development, estimating 276 more people will need care. Existing GP services cannot handle that many patients. Nearby doctors’ offices lack sufficient capacity.

Planning papers state the site is next to existing houses. Buses run often to nearby towns like Witney, Carterton, Long Hanborough, and Oxford. Bus stops are located close to the site.