Skip to content
Council services over Christmas and New Year 2025/26

A guide to council services over the Christmas and New Year period when the council offices are closed to the public. 

Planning

vale of white horse district council logo

October 23, 2025

Councils ask Inspectors to think again about local plan after minister letter

A letter to Planning Inspectors from a government minister could offer an opportunity for the Joint Local Plan being developed by the district councils in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. The plan is currently being examined by Planning Inspectors who recently wrote to the councils recommending they withdraw the plan from the process. […]

Decorative montage of landscape images

October 8, 2025

Councils to take positive steps to represent communities despite concerns with Inspectors’ Local Plan decision

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have written an open letter in which they have stated the Planning Inspectors’ conclusions on their Joint Local Plan were unwarranted and lacking coherent explanation.

Decorative montage of landscape images

October 1, 2025

The councils’ response to the Planning Inspectors’ findings on the Joint Local Plan

A statement on behalf of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

Chair of Planning, Cllr Max Thompson

August 12, 2025

Government’s proposed planning reform not “wanted or needed” says council 

A council has slammed proposed changes to planning decision-making saying they will “weaken local democracy and faith in the planning process”. 

Haseley Trading Estate

June 19, 2025

Planning application submitted for Haseley Trading Estate vehicle depot

South Oxfordshire District Council has submitted a planning application for the proposed vehicle depot site, and the plans are now available to view online and for people to leave their comments. 

Decorative montage of landscape images

June 2, 2025

Joint Local Plan hearings

The public hearings for the South and Vale Joint Local Plan start this week.

Decorative montage of landscape images

April 15, 2025

Next steps for Joint Local Plan

Published Tuesday 15 April 2025 We are pleased to announce that the dates for the start of the public hearings for the South and Vale Joint Local Plan have been published this week. This stage of the examination involves our appointed Planning Inspectors (Inspectors R A Bust and C Mulloy) holding hearing sessions to hear […]

Aerial photo of Milton Park

March 24, 2025

Pioneering planning scheme shortlisted for economic growth award

An exciting planning project in the Vale of White Horse has been recognised by being shortlisted for an industry award.

Light playing on water

October 25, 2024

Reservoir risks discussed and nature recovery plans highlighted by councillors

In its October meeting, Vale of White Horse District Council debated the potential for flooding risks that could be caused by Thames Water’s reservoir proposals. Among the points of significant public interest in the district discussed by councillors was a motion outlining that Thames Water has not yet addressed community concerns around the risks of […]

Decorative montage of landscape images

October 1, 2024

“Innovative” and “ground-breaking” plan published

Later this year, two district councils will be submitting a plan to the government that aims to help meet their local communities’ need for housing, jobs and infrastructure – and they have now made it publicly available for a six-week period.