Our proposal
We are proposing to form a new council to serve Oxford and its immediate surroundings.
The council – known as Greater Oxford Council – would be responsible for all services currently provided by Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
Our proposal would bring local decisions under one roof and closer to the people they affect.
This would help 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.
The Greater Oxford proposal is being led by Oxford City Council.
Where is Greater Oxford?
A Greater Oxford Council would cover Oxford and the communities within its Green Belt that are naturally linked to the city by work, transport and leisure.
Blue area: Proposed Greater Oxford Council
Green line: Green Belt outer boundary
Grey lines: Current city and district council boundaries
Greater Oxford would cover a region with a population of about 240,000 people today, rising to about 345,000 by 2040.
Oxford’s Green Belt
The Greater Oxford boundary closely follows the line of Oxford’s Green Belt.
Currently, almost all of Oxford’s Green Belt – which was created in 1975 – sits outside the city’s administrative boundaries.
The Greater Oxford proposals would give local residents control of the Green Belt for the first time.
The government has been clear that some of the ‘Grey Belt’ – defined as “poor quality” areas of the Green Belt – in England should be developed to help deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
This will be a big change for Oxfordshire.
Rather than incrementally building around every town and village across the county, as is currently the case, Greater Oxford can ensure that high-quality, suitably dense and sustainable developments are built near to existing jobs and community facilities, with good public transport.
Benefits to Greater Oxford
New homes
Oxford is one of the least affordable places to live in the country. Average house prices are 13 times average salaries, and 3,500 households are on the waiting list for council homes. It’s little different in the villages around the city, where house prices are linked to the Oxford housing market and 100s of households also wait for affordable social housing.
The city’s current administrative boundaries are tightly drawn around existing homes and businesses, meaning there is little space to deliver the number of homes needed.
Greater Oxford would enable genuinely affordable homes, including new council homes, to be built at appropriate densities near to existing jobs and community facilities that have good public transport.
It would also mean that Oxford could tackle the housing crisis without the need to build homes in neighboring authorities, giving the Northern Oxfordshire and Ridgeway councils full control of their own housing needs.
The proposals would see over 40,000 new homes built within Greater Oxford by 2040.
If the new council follows Oxford City Council’s current planning policies, 40% of these new homes – over 16,000 homes – would be required to be new council homes.
Economic growth
Increase jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses in the UK for attracting overseas investment
Oxford has one of the fastest growing and most successful local economies in the UK.
Oxford is a net contributor to the UK’s economy – generating £7.6bn annually – has been ranked on of country’s top performing cities by PwC, including attraction of overseas investment, for many years.
The city has huge unmet demand for labs, innovation space, offices and hotels, but the current administrative boundaries – which are tightly drawn around existing homes and businesses – means Oxford’s economy is being artificially restricted.
The Greater Oxford proposals would see the creation of 5.9m–9.6m sq ft of research and development space and 2.1m–3.2m sq ft of other commercial space. This would create between 17,900 and 29,100 new jobs in Greater Oxford, which would generate up to £2bn a year for the UK’s economy.
The Greater Oxford proposals would also bring decision-making on apprenticeships and skills training back to the local level. The new council would look to increase apprenticeship and training opportunities in Greater Oxford, so local people have a proper share in the area’s growing success.
Transport
The transport system in the Greater Oxford region is in crisis.
There is chronic congestion in and around Oxford, which is impacting the financial sustainability of the city’s bus companies.
Greater Oxford would give local residents full control over Oxford’s transport for the first time in 50 years. The transport network has been run by Oxfordshire County Council since 1974.
The proposals would provide additional bus services to villages around the city by extending existing routes.
Having one council for Greater Oxford would also mean planning and transport could be properly integrated. Currently, the services are run by separate councils.
Environment
The Thames and Cherwell rivers and their tributaries flow through the heart of Greater Oxford, surrounded by vast green spaces and natural beauty. It is key that we protect and enhance these spaces.
The creation of a Greater Oxford Council would strengthen the control that Oxford and the main population centres around it have over the Green Belt. We would work to strengthen protection for valuable green spaces, proposals that would help wildlife to flourish, enhance biodiversity, improve the quality of our air and water, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. This will build on the successes of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, recently expanded to Oxfordshire, which came out of the pioneering Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change.
Our proposal would see the creation of a more resilient, more connected, network of nature and wildlife corridors, as well as continued support of the vital conservation and nature recovery initiatives – such as those in the Bernwood-Otmoor-Ray area at Bernwood Forest, the River Ray, and the Otmoor Basin.
It would also facilitate wider ecosystem benefits, including flood regulation, nature recovery and carbon storage, which are essential in protecting our homes and environment from the increasing impacts of climate change.
Green spaces are also just as important as urban spaces in fostering healthy communities and improving well-being. The Greater Oxford proposals would also give residents improved access to nature and the landscapes of our region, ensuring they can be enjoyed by everyone.
Communities
At the moment, only city residents can take advantage of Oxford City Council’s community services offer, which includes:
- Free swimming for under 17s in Oxford’s swimming pools – Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre, Leys Pools and Leisure Centre, and Hinksey Outdoor Pool
- Free youth clubs and activities, including summer holiday activities, as part of the Oxford Youth Ambition programme
- Heavily discounted leisure centre membership for people on qualifying benefits, including those on carer’s allowance, foster carers and those on disability allowance
Under the proposals, all Greater Oxford residents – including residents of Berinsfield, Botley, Kennington, Kidlington and Wheatley – will be able to take advantage of the offer.
The aim would also be to extend the offer to Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield, Kidlington and Gosford Leisure Centre, and Park Sports Centre in Wheatley.
FAQs
Why is this happening now?
The government announced local government reorganisation in December 2024, to end the two-tier arrangement of County and District councils and create single unitary councils.
They have asked the areas affected to put forward their proposals for the best geography for new unitary councils.
The deadline for Oxfordshire councils is 28 November to submit proposals. The final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Local Government, expected in 2026.
Where are the proposed boundaries of Greater Oxford?
The boundaries are based on the Green Belt, with some variation to ensure parishes are not split. We have made exceptions to exclude areas around Eynsham and Abingdon from the proposed boundaries in recognition that these population centres will help ensure the Northern and Ridgeway unitaries are viable and sustainable.
To decide on the boundaries, we engaged with our neighbouring councils, local stakeholders and businesses and the government to discuss viability. Our proposal is based on the city’s Green Belt, which was created in 1975 and intrinsically linked to the city. We’ve taken into account local identities, parish boundaries, transport and work links to arrive at a geography that reflects the ways that people live in their local area.
Is my village/town just going to become part of Oxford?
This would be a completely new authority, belonging as much to places like Wheatley, Berinsfield and Kidlington as to Oxford. The services will be provided across the whole of Greater Oxford.
Places within the city itself still retain their distinct identities, and even continue with a village identity as in Iffley Village and Old Marston. There is real local identity that differs between places like Barton, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys and our proposal aims to support community engagement and empowerment at the local level across all areas of Greater Oxford.
Local councillors will champion the interests of their area within the new council, and parish councils will have an important role in promoting the interests of their area.
Within the three unitary model we are proposing, there will be fewer competing voices for local councillors and parishes than in proposals in larger unitaries. Working at a smaller scale will mean the unitaries are more able to listen and respond to local needs.
Are you planning to build on the Green Belt?
The rules on allowing development on Green Belt will still apply to this new council. We would need to undertake a Green Belt review as part of realising our ambitions. We will be actively protecting the Green Belt overall as an environmental benefit for everyone.
How much money will be saved?
Pixel Financial, a local government finance consultancy, has estimated annual savings of between £18m and £27m are achievable across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire by reducing council expenditure through the creation of the three unitary councils.
The Greater Oxford Council would also be financially robust, inheriting the ‘Oxford Model’ which takes advantage of Oxford City Council’s significant buildings/assets and our wholly owned companies such as ODS and OX Place that already deliver services for the council, as well as private clients and generates income.
Will parish councils be impacted by the proposals?
Parish councils provide important local democracy and opportunities for communities to have their say in their local area. Parish councils are the building blocks for our proposed Greater Oxford area, and will continue to perform a vital function. The new Greater Oxford will build strong relationships with its parish councils, and parishes will benefit from more focus in three smaller unitary areas than would be expected in fewer, larger unitaries.
What happens to the rest of the county?
Our proposal is that Oxfordshire is split into three viable unitary authorities that can best represent the local identities and interests of the people they serve.
The Ridgeway Council in the south, combining South, Vale and West Berkshire is already being proposed by those areas. However, under our three unitaries proposal those areas close to the city – such as Wheatley, Berinsfield, Kennington and Botley – would become part of Greater Oxford. There would be a Northern unitary combining West Oxfordshire and Cherwell.
We believe this scale of local government would enable the new councils to be economically viable while still being on a local scale to care for the distinct needs of their area.
You can find out more on the ‘What’s changing?’ page.
How do I have my say on the proposals?
Oxford City Council will be engaging directly with residents, businesses, stakeholders and community organisation across central Oxfordshire on the creation of a Greater Oxford unitary council.
We will be conducting public engagement on our proposals, including in-person discussions in some of the main locations.
We are also speaking to stakeholders, including businesses, universities and other education representatives, health bodies, bus companies, and other large employers to hear their views.
Hearing views from the public and stakeholders is important to us. However the final decision will be made by government, they will run their own public consultation as part of this process.
Who makes the final decision?
The final decision will be made by government