Oxford City Council is the freeholder owner of around 80 acres of land to the south of Grenoble Road between Littlemore and Blackbird Leys.

The land, which falls in the South Oxfordshire District Council area, is subject to a live planning application for 3,000 new homes.

Dubbed the South Oxford Science Village, it will deliver crucial housing delivered via a partnership between Oxford City Council, Magdalen College (owners of The Oxford Science Park), and Thames Water (which also own part of the land earmarked for development).

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Emma Gubbins, corporate asset lead at Oxford City Council, said in a report ahead of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, April 15 that the “disposal” of the land should be approved.

She said: “The council intends to dispose of the land by way of option agreement and ultimately freehold transfer.”

Grenoble Road site (Image: Damian Halliwell)

Grenoble Road site (Image: Damian Halliwell)

Essentially, this means a contract giving the developer the right to buy in future (option agreement). Then, if that right is used, a permanent sale of the land itself (freehold transfer).

Ms Gubbins added that the terms of the deal are confidential and subject to a non-disclosure agreement.

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As such, details of how much the land is valued at and how much the council could make from a potential sale are not known publicly.

What is known is that Oxford City Council would disposing of easements with a value more than £750,000 and/or rental value more than £250,000 each year.

Ed Turner, cabinet member for finance and asset management (Image: Ed Nix)

The report which the council’s cabinet will discuss, and make an ultimate decision on, says a sale would generate a “significant capital receipt” for the council despite it being just a “small part” of its total land portfolio.

“The other benefits the disposal could achieve via development would further benefit the local area and, as such, it is considered that on balance the disposal should proceed in order to achieve the significant positives for the council, future council and local areas,” Ms Gubbins’ report added.

Sam Casey-Rerhaye, Green South Oxfordshire district councillor for Sandford, said: “I hope this means that work to start this development will now get going and that the essential infrastructure upgrades are funded and get started in good time for the first new residents.

“What no one in the area wants is another development where health, transport and other infrastructure lags years behind. This includes essential work from Thames Water of course.”

Sam Casey-Rerhaye (Image: Green Party)

The site south of Grenoble Road has been earmarked for development since 2019, when an agreement was made with Oxford City Council and Oxford University’s Magdalen College.

As green belt land, the site was incorporated into South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan 2035 in 2020 as a ‘strategic allocation’ for thousands of new homes.

But one stipulation of the deal was that at least half of them need to be of affordable tenure.

Cabinet members on the city council previously said they hoped a planning application would be submitted by the end of 2023, but the long-awaited proposal is only beginning to emerge now, three years later.

Ed Turner, the city council’s cabinet member for finance and asset management, is expected to be at the meeting to decide along with other senior councillors on Wednesday evening, April 15.

Paul Barry, experienced community pharmacist and NHS business partner for Well Pharmacy, is urging the nation to be aware of the 12 signs and symptoms of a new strain known as Cicada. 

He said: “The new Cicada variant has now been identified in the UK and is expected to become the dominant strain.

“This deceptive new strain can trick the immune system into not recognising that it is Covid and can allow for the Cicada variant to quickly spread across the UK.

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“Young children are prone to picking up infections and could be particularly exposed to this variant given they will have unlikely had a Covid vaccination.  

“I would urge everyone to consider a Spring vaccine, given it will be almost five years since they have had a Covid vaccine. While the vaccine is not altered to target the new variant, it still offers the best form of protection against the virus.”

Pharmacists are bracing for a rush of patients wanting Spring vaccinations after the recent Meningitis outbreak exposed the dangers of being unvaccinated against serious disease. 

The genetic modifications of the new variant mean that the body may not recognise the virus, allowing it to spread quicker. 

Cicada was first identified in Africa before making its way across the globe and as of February 2026, it was in 23 countries including the Netherlands.  

In the UK, overall Covid cases remain low with 491 reported cases for the week up until March 25, with 27 covid-related deaths up to March 20. 

While there is no current evidence to suggest that Cicada poses a greater risk than other strains of Covid, patients should be cautious that vaccines might prove less effective against this variant. 

Paul wants to remind patients of the usual symptoms of Covid-19 including a cough, fever or chills. 

Other severe symptoms can include sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of smell or taste and gastrointestinal issues. 

While symptoms can vary with rest, it is also important to remain hydrated, drinking plenty of water and ensuring that the medicine cabinet is appropriately stocked up with over-the-counter medications including paracetamol.

Other patients can present asymptomatically, meaning that they won’t feel unwell, but they can still spread the virus. 

The NHS has a list of Covid symptoms available to be viewed on their website which suggests testing for Covid-19 if the following are present;

• A high temperature or shivering 
• A new continuous cough
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath 
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• An aching body
• A headache 
• A sore throat 
• Blocked or runny nose
• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea or being sick 
• Diarrhoea 

Last year, the Nimbus and Stratus variants of Covid left patients feeling as though they had swallowed razor blades due to the pain felt when swallowing. 

Paul warns Brits to be cautious especially as the new Covid variant spreads and believes that anyone who might be under the weather and believes they have Covid should follow NHS advice.

Paul, from Well Pharmacy, said: “If you have Covid, you should stay indoors and rest, avoiding contact with other people and wait until you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

“Younger people who have tested positive for Covid seem to be infectious for less time than adults, and so usually within three days it is possible that they may be testing negative. 

“If you’re over 18 and have tested positive then it is recommended that you wait five days to have contact with anyone as this is usually when most over 18’s begin to test negative for Covid. 

“Patients who believe they might be vulnerable for Covid should book in for a Spring vaccine to ensure peace of mind as well as protection against the most severe effects of the virus.

“It’s important that everyone does their part, if you are testing positive for Covid then please do follow the NHS guidelines and don’t go to crowded places.”

Thames Valley Police’s neighbourhood policing team for Cherwell and the Incident and Crime Response team carried out a joint operation across Banbury on Friday, April 10, to catch speeding motorists.

Officers said they dealt with multiple drivers and reported them for speeding with the highest speed recorded as 32mph in a 20mph zone.

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They also seized one e-scooter for illegal use on the road.

In a statement released at about 1pm on Friday, police warned that the operation was not yet done.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We’ll be continuing these checks throughout the day, so please watch your speed and help keep our roads safe for everyone.”