North West Bicester (NW Bicester) developers, A2Dominion, and Cherwell District Council, are preparing a business plan which will guide the potential development of a new community-led governance structure within the eco town.
The plan will aim to offer residents and businesses the opportunity to come together to make decisions about issues that affect their immediate area through a new community organisation.
Louise Caves, strategic partnership co-ordinator at A2Dominion, said: “As a housing provider, A2Dominion has a lot of expertise in community involvement and engagement. Working with Cherwell District Council and Bicester Town Council, we are committed to involving local stakeholders in the development of a partnership structure that enables both the existing and new community to participate effectively in the future running of the eco town.
“We are currently undertaking a lot of work to understand people’s interests and capacity to be involved in the early development stages and how this approach could potentially benefit Bicester as a whole.
Councillor Michael Gibbard, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “We have said all along that we would encourage strong community involvement in this project.
“Our aspirations for NW Bicester and the wider Eco Bicester project will only be fully realised if people living in the town choose to actively engage with the process.”
For more information about NW Bicester and to sign up to the monthly Friends of NW Bicester e-newsletter, visit www.NWbicester.co.uk