Persimmon Homes Wessex has been awarded planning consent for the next 400 homes at Valley Park.

Persimmon can now start construction on 306 units, with a further 91 under the banner of its sister company, Charles Church. 109 of the houses for Phase 3 will be reserved for a local housing association.

Alongside the properties – which are equipped with EV points – cycle parking and public open space make up the plans for this parcel.

Persimmon is delivering half of the 4,254 homes coming to Valley Park, which will also be home to two primary schools, a SEN school, local centres, sports facilities, and policy-compliant levels of affordable housing once complete.

Ground on the primary school was broken at the end of last year and is expected to open ready for next year’s first cohort of local children while, earlier this year, the leader of the district council also marked the latest handover of Affordable Housing at the site.

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Seb Spiller, managing director at Persimmon Homes and Charles Church Wessex, said: “We are very proud of our work at Valley Park, delivering high-quality homes for local people alongside significant infrastructure, and are pleased to have secured consent for the plans for our latest phase.

“Valley Park is a major driver of jobs and housing for local people and, soon, will have made a significant contribution to education, sports, and community spaces in Didcot.

“This shows how housebuilding here is generating benefits across the town and that Persimmon is working towards leaving a positive and lasting legacy at Valley Park.”

Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council are working together on the Banbury Framework Masterplan and have begun meeting with local stakeholders, including businesses, employers, and transport providers to get their views.

The work builds on previous public engagement and planning for the town, including the Banbury Vision 2050 project.

It forms part of a piece of work being delivered by consultants Prior + Partners, which is expected to conclude early next year.

The Banbury plan is intended to help inform future investment planning to support the development of the town and bring in further funding to the area.

The work will support a dedicated Banbury investment prospectus designed to promote the town’s profile and attract interested parties and financial opportunities.

The process will involve bringing together evidence, expertise, and local insight to create a clear plan for the town’s future and help ensure Banbury is well positioned to secure investment and deliver long-term regeneration in the years ahead.

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Cllr Gareth Epps, OCC’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This is a chance to make a huge difference to parts of Banbury at an important point in its development, with opportunities emerging across the town centre, transport network, and key development sites.

“We recognise that an ambition of this scale cannot be achieved by the councils alone. Success will depend on building strong partnerships with those who share our passion for Banbury’s future. We know that future investment is becoming increasingly competitive, and so Banbury will need a clear vision to attract partners.

“We’ve already begun discussions with representatives from business, transport, health, environmental, cultural and education sectors to help ensure future development contributes positively to the town’s character, enhances quality of life, creates jobs and lasting opportunities for residents. We will continue listening and working with local communities to help shape a regeneration programme that delivers for Banbury.”

Cllr Lesley McLean, leader of Cherwell District Council and portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Banbury has many strengths to build on, including its businesses, heritage, transport connections and strong sense of community. This masterplan will help identify new ways to attract investment, support local enterprise, create jobs and boost the town centre.

“Creating thriving town centres and a strong local economy that benefits residents is a key priority for Cherwell District Council. By working with our partners and engaging with businesses and stakeholders, we want to ensure Banbury is well placed to make the most of future opportunities and becomes an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

Plans are being developed for up to 12 new affordable homes on two council-owned sites in Blackbird Leys.

The homes will be built through a new partnership between Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT).

The Pegasus Road and Balfour Road sites were identified as opportunities for affordable housing through a joint feasibility study carried out by the council and OCLT in 2021.

The study looked at council-owned garage sites and other underused parcels of land across Blackbird Leys, with extensive community engagement helping to identify the most suitable sites for housing.

Funding from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) has already enabled the demolition of garages at Pegasus Road, helping to prepare the site for future housing development.

OCLT is now progressing plans to secure planning permission for up to 12 affordable homes across the two sites.

The council has entered into an Agreement for Lease with OCLT. Subject to planning permission being granted and the satisfaction of other conditions within the agreement, OCLT will take responsibility for delivering and managing the homes under a long-term lease arrangement. Through OCLT’s commitment to the Oxfordshire Register for Affordable Housing (ORAH), the homes will be allocated to applicants on Oxford City Council’s housing register.

If the necessary approvals and conditions are secured, OCLT estimates work on site to start in Spring 2027.

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Cllr Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “There is a huge need for affordable homes in Oxford and every piece of land and every new home counts. Making the best possible use of land the council owns already, such as these former garage sites is especially important.

“These new plans are a great example of what can be achieved when the council works with a community-led housing organisation. We’ve helped unlock underused land and funding, while OCLT is now taking forward plans that could deliver around 12 much-needed affordable homes for local people.

“We hope to see work begin next year and these sites transformed into new homes for people on Oxford’s housing register.”

Jonathan Miller, director at the Oxfordshire Community Land Trust, said: “Oxfordshire Community Land Trust is delighted to have agreed terms on a long-term lease for both the Balfour and Pegasus Road former garage sites.

“Following a short period of community engagement, we plan to submit planning applications for both sites later this year, setting out our vision to transform these former disused sites into permanently affordable homes in perpetuity.”

Image: Roger Templeman CC-BY-SA 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bridge_on_Blackbird_Leys_Road_over_railway_branch_line_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2445963.jpg