Oxford neighbourhoods with the least amount of green space

The survey, by MG Timber and Online Marketing Surgery, has ranked the amount of postcodes within 900m of a park public garden or playing fields.

The research found Iffley Fields to be the neighbourhood with the least amount of postcodes within 900 metres of green space, with only 92 postcodes in that area within reach of a green space.

A computer-generated image of Warneford Park (Image: Cityscape Digital for Eric Parry Architects)

Meanwhile Oxford Central tops the list with 380 postcodes in the neighbourhood having close access to green space.

North Central Oxford, Churchill, Grandpont and New Hinksey, as well as Marston all joined Iffley Park as the least amount of access to green space, with just over 100 each.

Greater Leys had more than 300 postcodes within 900 metres of a park, public garden or playing fields.

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A computer-generated image of Warneford Park (Image: Cityscape Digital for Eric Parry Architects)

Whilst Cowley North, Blackbird Leys, and Headington all had more than 200 postcodes within close reach to green spaces.

Plans for new houses at Iffley Mead Playing Fields are under consideration after a planning application was submitted last year.

Bayswater Farm proposals (Image: Cilldara Group/South Oxfordshire District Council)

It was historically used as playing fields for the former St Augustine’s School before becoming derelict, but now Oxfordshire County Council wants to build up to 90 homes on the land.

Plans were delivered this year for a new graduate accommodation and healthcare campus at Warneford Park in Headington.

Meanwhile, planning permission for land at Bayswater Farm, on the outskirts of Headington, to be developed into 76 homes and a care home have been given the go ahead.

There has been an ongoing campaign in the city to save New Hinksey Playground in Bertie Place, known locally as Bertie Park, from being turned into housing.

A Save Bertie Park campaign outside the Town Hall in Oxford in 2024

Campaign group Save Bertie Park has been fighting the plans after Oxford City Council proposed to to build 31 affordable homes, with associated public open space, multi-use games area, children’s play area, access and landscaping.

The plans have been subject to high levels objections since the council first revealed its intentions to build on the park in 2019.

North Oxford Golf Club closed in October 2025 after 118 years.

Members of North Oxford Golf Club joined for a final celebration on the last day (Image: Jill Northover)

The course was shut down to allow Oxford University, Merton College and Exeter College to start work on their planning application to build homes on the site.

The 70-acre site was earmarked as part of a 1,180-home development between Cutteslowe and the A34 in Cherwell District Council’s adopted local plan.

A group of golfers known as the Greenway group formed to try and stop these plans from going ahead, but they were unsuccessful.