West Oxfordshire District Council and other senior figures have come out against new national planning rules which will reduce the number of decisions made by councillors. The new ‘National Scheme of Delegation’, which will be in force from October 31, comes as West Oxfordshire has been told it must plan for around 18,000 news homes by 2043. “With thousands of new homes proposed across West Oxfordshire, now is completely the wrong time to reduce democratic scrutiny of planning decisions.” Liam Walker, leader of the Oxfordshire Conservatives (Image: Contributed)READ MORE: Developer of flood-ridden Oxfordshire estate to be struck offThe UK government declined to respond to West Oxfordshire District Council’s criticisms. He said: “Central government determines national planning policy, not local councils or planning committees.