Bicester Motion plans 200 homes on former RAF site

The application comes as part of its wider vision to create a mixed-use community centred on technology, engineering and mobility innovation.

The Motion Living plan has already been lodged with Cherwell District Council and forms one of what will be four major proposals which make up Bicester Motion’s long-term masterplan for the 444-acre estate.

If approved, the development would create a residential quarter on land in the north-west corner of the site between Buckingham Road, Bicester Road and the proposed Rushes experience district.

Planning documents state the scheme would provide around 200 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including affordable housing, within a low-rise residential community integrated into the wider campus.

Bicester Motion new 200-apartment application as part of its new masterplan (Image: Bicester Motion/Cherwell District Council Planning Portal)

Developers say the project is designed to address demand from people working within Bicester Motion’s growing cluster of mobility, engineering and advanced technology businesses by allowing residents to live close to their workplaces and amenities.

The homes would be arranged in a series of landscaped residential blocks of between four and five storeys, with buildings reaching a maximum height of 17.5 metres. Plans also include communal green spaces, parking, pedestrian and cycle routes, and links to other parts of the estate.

Bicester Motion describes Motion Living as a “natural evolution” of its plans for the site, creating an environment where people can “live, work, learn and socialise” within the same destination.

The proposal sits alongside a number of other planned developments across the estate, including The Ranges innovation and advanced manufacturing hub, The Rushes visitor and experience quarter, hospitality facilities, mobility infrastructure and future leisure attractions.

According to the Design and Access Statement, Motion Living would create a “genuine live-work community” that supports sustainable travel and reduces reliance on cars by placing homes within walking and cycling distance of employment opportunities.

The development would also be positioned close to the former Stratton Audley Quarry nature area, with existing woodland and landscape buffers retained and enhanced. The design code proposes landscaped courtyards, wildflower meadows, scrub planting and new green spaces intended to complement the surrounding environment.

Planning documents state the addition of housing would help create a more balanced community across the estate by increasing activity beyond normal business hours and supporting future retail, hospitality and leisure facilities.

The site falls within the RAF Bicester Conservation Area and developers say the plans have been shaped by heritage considerations, with buildings designed to sit below surrounding treelines and integrate with the character of the wider estate.

Bicester Motion said the scheme would help attract and retain skilled workers while supporting the continued transformation of the former airbase into a nationally significant centre for mobility innovation.