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Waipā District Council chief executive Garry Dyet commended staff and councillors for completing the long term plan, much of the work was done during the Covid-19 alert levels in 2020. The council initially proposed a 1.8 per cent rates increase but then the community wanted key projects added, so the final increase was 4.6 per cent for the first year of the 10-year plan. “We are living within our financial means and while the first year we have an increase in the mid 4 per cent, as we go through the whole 10-year period, it will average to 2.2 per cent,” Dyet said.
BUILDING work has started at a £100 million development in Bicester. The 300,000 sq ft site just off the A41, called Catalyst Bicester, will be home to a new sustainable business community made up of stand-alone buildings and a wetland nature reserve. It will also include a David Lloyd Health and Racquets Club and, according to developers Albion Land, will provide workspace for up to 1,750 new jobs. The first four technology buildings will range in size from 10,000 sq ft to 22,000 sq ft and be ready for businesses to occupy them in early 2022. But cycling campaigners are concerned that pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to access the site safely under the new road layout.