Infrastructure

4.1 Community Infrastructure - definition

Within this document, WING has chosen to use the term ‘Community Infrastructure’ to describe the elements within the planned development, in addition to housing, that support the day-to-day life of its residents. This covers a broad range of facilities such as a Community Centre, play areas, open spaces, parks and green spaces, cultural and sports facilities, allotments, healthcare facilities, shops and schools.

Community Infrastructure is not defined or identified as a discrete strategy, objective, or policy in any West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) or Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) plans or reports. The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is equally deficient.

The wider term ‘Infrastructure’ is generally accepted to include major structural elements such as roads, bridges, and flood defences. In the context of our reports on North Witney SDA proposals, WING has commented on the specific infrastructure elements of West End Link (WEL), Northern Distributor Road (NDR) and Flood Defence in separate appendices. These major infrastructure elements provide the framework around which Witney’s communities can be built, but they also are part of the Community Infrastructure of North Witney. The WEL and NDR will facilitate access for North Witney residents from their homes to local facilities, work, and schools. They also form an essential element of the highways in the district that cater for visitors and through traffic. There is therefore and overlap between major infrastructure and community infrastructure needs. This issue is considered in more detail in section 4.4 below.