Crime & Safety
New Cotswolds village gets green light to be built as plans approved
Centred on innovation in agriculture and land management, the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) Innovation Village will be developed next to its Cirencester campus.
The project is set to become a major hub for research, collaboration, and real-world solutions in the land-based sector.
Professor Peter McCaffery, vice-chancellor of the RAU, said: “We are delighted that our application for outline planning has been approved.
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“The RAU celebrated its 180th anniversary last year and today’s endorsement by Cotswold District Council’s planning committee marks another significant milestone in the evolution of our university.
“The Innovation Village will be a major centre, both in the UK and internationally, for agriculture-related innovation, and is integral to the RAU as well as being a UK first.”
Spanning a 12-hectare site owned by the university, the 24,000 sqm development will include laboratories, office space, and facilities for events and hospitality.
It will focus on regenerative agriculture and is designed to be carbon-neutral and environmentally rich.
Buildings will be constructed to Passivhaus Plus standards to ensure low energy use and occupant wellbeing.
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Cllr Tristan Wilkinson, Cotswold District Council’s cabinet member for economy and council transformation, said: “This is a truly exciting announcement.
“The Innovation Village reflects the direction set out in our corporate priorities for a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable local economy.
“It has the potential to support green growth and agri-tech innovation, attract high-value, low-carbon businesses, and create skilled jobs that strengthen the Cotswolds beyond its world-renowned visitor economy.”
The RAU hopes the village will encourage young people in Gloucestershire to pursue careers in the sector by offering training and employment opportunities.
The facility will also support collaboration between the university’s researchers, food producers, farmers, and landowners to develop practical solutions for food production and biodiversity recovery.
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The economic impact of the Innovation Village is expected to be substantial.
The RAU currently contributes more than £50 million a year to the Gloucestershire economy, and the new development is projected to generate an additional £50 million annually once fully operational.
Professor McCaffery emphasised the collaborative nature of the project.
He said: “Our international partners will also play an active part in the ecosystem of organisations that we are helping to convene at our Cirencester campus – alongside SMEs, industry R&D, government agencies, charities, community bodies, and other UK universities.
“Since launching the proposal, we have been in contact with many potential investors and funders and, following today’s decision, we are now in a position to move forward with those discussions.
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“Today is an exciting day, not only for us at the RAU but also for the town of Cirencester and for Gloucestershire as a whole.”
Councillor Julian Tooke, cabinet member for business, economic development, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council, welcomed the project as a boost for the region.
Cllr Tooke said: “This is a significant step forward for Gloucestershire and a clear vote of confidence in our county as a centre for innovation in agriculture, food, and land management.
“The Innovation Village will help create high-quality skills and employment opportunities, particularly for our young people, while supporting sustainable growth in our rural economy.
“It builds Gloucestershire’s strong partnerships between education, industry, and the public sector, and will play an important role in shaping a more resilient, low-carbon future. Great news for the county.”
The city of Oxford has emerged as the UK’s best city for bookshops.
A whopping 60 percent of their survey respondents said Oxford’s literary scene is either ‘good’ or ‘amazing’.
Oxford is the birthplace of Blackwell’s, an academic bookseller that now has 18 branches across the country.
Blackwell’s opened in Broad Street in 1879 and is now considered a landmark of the city.
Its famous Norrington Room is the single largest room selling books in the world, with 5km worth of shelving holding more than 160,000 volumes.
A new secondhand bookshop has recently opened in Oxford city centre.
Scott Moynihan, his partner Sumner Braund, Mehdi Bensenane and his partner Helen Flatley have opened Barker & Co Booksellers at Golden Cross, off Cornmarket, which also features a Pizza Express and other shops and a cafe.
That’s far from the only place you can browse books in Oxford, though.
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The Time Out awards also highlight Gulp Fiction, Arcadia, and Daunt Books in Summertown as other bookshops central to the crowning of Oxford as the book capital.
As for the rest of the city’s cultural offerings, the survey revealed 77 per cent of locals said that it’s great for art, 69 percent agreed that it’s good for movies and 76 per cent said it was historic.
Findings from the South Western Railway research has also revealed that the most popular genre for stories set in Oxford is fantasy, such as Pullman’s The Golden Compass or Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches.
The Sweet Shop Burford, located on the hilly High Street in the town, has been open since 2002.
While the Burford store is 24 years old, the company behind it established its very first store in nearby Broadway back in 1986.
Reviews are favourable for the longstanding confectionery store, with it being praised for its classic feel.
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“Old school sweet shop with glass jars, small candies, and some more commercial items,” said one customer on Tripadvisor.
“It is small, but there is a lot in here – enough to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.
“We entered for a small sweet and ended up taking away quite a sack of treats!”
Another added: “We picked up some lovely Christmas presents in this traditional sweet shop.
“Lots of choice and prices very reasonable. Glad I don’t live too near!”
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A third said: “An unexpected pleasure awaited me as I enjoyed browsing all the delicious food that was beautifully displayed. Fresh and special!”
Having been open as usual earlier this year, The Sweet Shop is currently closed for renovations.
It is expected that the popular spot will reopen later this year in the summer, but no exact reopening date has yet been given.
A sign displayed in the window says: “Customer notice. We are now closed for refurbishment.
“We look forward to welcoming you back in the summer. Thank you!”
The warning comes from Georgina Liverpool, branch manager at Beaverbrooks jewellers in Oxford, who said products containing SPF can leave a film on diamonds and metal bands, making them appear cloudy or dull.
Ms Liverpool said: “Many people don’t realise that products containing SPF can leave a film on your diamond and metal band, which can make jewellery appear dull or cloudy.
“The sticky residue from SPF can also gather in the setting, trapping dust, sand and lint, especially when you’re at the beach.
“While platinum and high-quality gold are resilient, repeated exposure to sunscreen can accelerate tarnishing or discolouration of the metal – so while SPF is essential for your skin, it’s certainly not for your jewellery.”
She recommends allowing sunscreen to fully absorb and washing hands before putting jewellery back on.
Ms Liverpool said: “If you can, it’s worth removing your ring before applying sunscreen or heading to the beach or pool.
“If your diamond does pick up residue or build-up, a gentle clean at home should restore its sparkle.”
She suggests using a small amount of mild washing-up liquid, warm water and a soft toothbrush to clean the ring, followed by a thorough rinse and drying with a lint-free cloth.
She also advises travellers to check their insurance cover for high-value pieces.
Beaverbrooks’ Oxford store, located on Queen Street, offers advice and cleaning tips to anyone seeking help with their jewellery.
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