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Beat the heat in the Vale

A guide to services and advice from the council, as well as local and national organisations, to help during the summer months.

Important changes to planning, land charges and mapping services

Our new Land Charges system is now live

Planning

Historic buildings in Stanford in the Vale

July 10, 2026

Land Charges system to launch on Monday 13 July following major upgrade

Joint statement from Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, and Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council:

Decorative montage of landscape images

July 3, 2026

Joint Local Plan Examination Hearings 

The second stage of public hearings for the South and Vale Joint Local Plan start next week. 

Decorative montage of landscape images

June 3, 2026

Next steps for Local Plans 

Councillors in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse will this week review an update to the timetable for the Joint Local Plan and its plans for development in the area. 

Decorative montage of landscape images

February 10, 2026

Joint Local Plan procedural meeting 12 February 2026

A Procedural Meeting for the Joint Local Plan will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 in Meeting Room 1 of Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JE, between 12- 2pm.

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.

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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.