NEWS ITEM

Take steps toward a compulsory Purchase Order

City leaders are now weary of the lack of response from the developer  

Councillor Ed Turner is Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset ManagementI. In statement today he said "I have asked officers to bring a cabinet paper forward as soon as possible to consider and seek a steer on the City Council's options to intervene in this matter, including exploring the option of CPO as a last resort.

Councillor Turners says: "The land is allocated in our Local Plan, with a clear policy framework setting out how the site should come forward.

"The City Council is extremely frustrated by the lack of progress on the site, despite, most recently, a planning permission being awarded in February 2023 after an appeal. We know that the local community shares this frustration, and to this end the Jericho Wharf Trust (JWT) wrote to the Council back in December 2024 asking us to consider using our Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to take control of the site. Over this period, we have remained in dialogue with the landowner in order to try and bring forward either the existing planning permission, or a new planning application.

"Unfortunately, there has been no demonstrable progress over the last year, and the current planning permission is due to lapse imminently. As such, I have asked officers to bring a cabinet paper forward as soon as possible to consider and seek a steer on the City Council's options to intervene in this matter, including exploring the option of CPO as a last resort."

This is a very welcome statement from Councillor Turner. The predictable lack of response from the developer has only reinforced the case for the City to intervene decisively. The Trust will continue to work alongside the Council to take a Compulsory Purchase Order forward. 

This prominent brownfield location, has become an embarassing eyesore. It has remained vacant for two decades, passing through multiple investors and seeing repeated speculative planning applications without progress. This prolonged dereliction has deprived the Jericho community and the wider city of a vital asset.

The proposed local plan now provides clear, positive direction, stipulating that any future planning permission must be for a mixed-use development incorporating essential community amenities. These include a dedicated community centre, public open space, and a replacement operating boatyard.

After 20 years of stagnation, the clarity in the proposed local plan is a crucial step forward. The consistent lack of constructive delivery from the site’s owners only reinforces the need for the City to now ensure a decisive outcome. The community has waited long enough. We are particularly pleased to see the plan mandate a community centre, public space, and a replacement boatyard. This reflects what residents have long called for. The years of delay have cost Jericho and Oxford the benefits this iconic site can provide. Momentum must be maintained to finally turn these plans into reality. The Trust urges all stakeholders to support the local plan’s policies for the site and calls for concerted effort to see a high-quality, community-focused development delivered without further delay.