Carterton – huge 2,500-home Oxford Uni plan progresses

Bloor Homes and Christ Church, University of Oxford, set out plans for the major new scheme on farmland north of Brize Norton, which would straddle the gap between Carterton and Minster Lovell in a request to West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC).

The council has now responded to this and listed topics requiring investigation with an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental statement before approval can be sought.

The plans for the land between the A40 and Burford Road include a new primary school, neighbourhood centre, cemetery, and space for a “potential future North Carterton Railway Station and associated railway corridor”.

The scoping request to the council suggests construction on the project, named the “Foxbury Garden Community”, could start as soon as 2029, with 1,500 homes completed by 2041.

An objection has been raised by a neighbouring resident, Paul Hughes, who said: “This whole design needs a serious rethink and some joined up thinking by WODC to ensure that this whole area is not going to be ruined for current and future residents and our local environment essentially trashed.”

The planned 2,500-home site (Image: Planning portal/Savills/Urban Design Studio)

The principal planner at the district council stated: “It is accepted that some significant effects are likely to arise and as such, no screening request has been submitted and it is agreed that the scheme would qualify as EIA development.”

Not all development schemes require EIA’s, only those expected to have a considerable impact.

The request outlined potential effects and methodology for probing the 161.1 ha site, which it described as “open agricultural fields bound by hedgerows, with small areas of woodland and several areas of dense scrubland”.

It noted that the development would also be bordered by a quarry with “small areas” of residential infrastructure and the Crocodiles of the World leisure facility.

A “framework masterplan” for the site states that the development would herald an “opportunity to support improvements/expansion” of the crocodile zoo.

In January, Bloor and Christchruch held public consultation events on plans in Brize Norton.

There has been a website created with information on the proposals.

It describes the involvement of the college and the housebuilder in the plans, which it says they anticipate receiving planning permission for in 2027.

The website states: “Christ Church is actively involved in bringing forward sites for new housing and mixed-use communities around Oxford and further afield.”

It adds: “Bloor actively engages with local communities and designs high quality homes for its customers.”

Recently, Bloor and Christ Church “collaborated” on the Brize Meadow 799-home development.