Detailed below are the general development principles that the EWLC adhere to:

Green Infrastructure

• Protect and enhance the landscape and nature conservation value of the area
• Create substantial new woodland structure as part of the overall design which will contribute to the woodland initiatives contained within the Wychwood Project
• Encourage restoration of grassland / wetland habitat and new planting which will contribute to the Windrush in Witney Project
• Provide areas for informal recreation and amenity use, linking where appropriate with existing green spaces.

• Create a clear and easy to use network of footpaths and cycle paths to connect existing and proposed community, residential, employment and open spaces via recreational areas
• Encourage public transport use by extending and fully integrating bus routes into the development
• Encourage longer distance journeys using public transport through the provision of a Park and Ride site next to the Shores Green Junction
• Relieve existing traffic problems in Witney by enabling the upgrade of the Shores Green A40 junction.

• Provide a mix of new residential accommodation which incorporates a range of house sizes, types and tenures;
• To help meet the acute levels of housing need, at least 40% of dwellings will be affordable and include housing for key workers
• Create an area with a distinctive sense of place, which respects the existing character and identity of West Oxfordshire
• Create permeable, legible and walkable neighbourhoods.

• The development will provide supporting community facilities including a new primary school, shops, play areas, a public house, wider recreation space and land for allotments.

• The development will incorporate high standards of sustainable building design and construction and promote energy and resource efficiency
• Include the use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to increase water storage and reduce flooding
• Site and orientate buildings so as to maximise solar gain
• Incorporate renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar water heating, air/ground source heat pumps and biomass energy
• 10% of the energy used on the sites will be generated by renewable sources in accordance with the Supplement to PPS1 on Climate Change. The sites topography and location close to the river Windrush Valley makes it suitable for a community heating scheme. The wet flood plain land of the lower Windrush valley is ideal ground for growing energy crops like short rotation willow and a processing facility could be located on the noise sensitive band of land west of Stanton Harcourt Road and north of the A40.