Plans for 750 homes near Bicester met with objections

Developer Gladman wants to build the homes, along with a mixed-use local centre, a primary school and sports pitches, on farmland north of Caversfield.

The 43-hectare site is bordered by Fringford Road and A421, just below Dymocks Farm House and Lawlors Barn.

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These properties are not included in the site boundary and access to them would be retained.

There will be two vehicle access points, with a three-arm roundabout proposed for the A4421 and a priority junction at Fringford Road.

It comprises 96 one-bedroom homes, 191 two-bedroom homes, 326 three-bedroom homes and 137 four- or more bedroom homes.

Oxfordshire County Council objects the application, saying safe and suitable access has not been demonstrated and the junction impact work is flawed.

The application site north of Caversfield (Image: Cherwell District Council)

Key issues include “inadequate visibility at both proposed accesses, a swept-path analysis which is too small for long vehicles and a lack of a firm traffic-calming scheme on Fringford Road to support proposed speed limit reductions”.

It insists on stronger active travel provisions including extending the 3m shared foot and cycle-way along Fringford Road and installing a new cycle-way on the A4421.

The highways authority also object due to insufficient detail on the sustainable surface water strategy and a lack of fully worked drainage design and calculations needed to meet national and local standards.

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For all other service areas, including education, archaeology, waste, libraries and public health services, the county council is broadly supportive in principle, subject to details design and Section 106 contributions, which surpasses £1,370,000.

The development is expected to generate 53 nursery, 198 primary and 153 secondary age pupils. The council expects a new one-form entry on-site primary school on a 2.22ha site, which is estimated to cost more than £8.8m.

The site has moderate prehistoric and high roman potential but the council said it is content with a condition requiring a stage archaeological investigation.

There are no objections regarding waste, subject to contributions towards expanding household waste recycling centre capacity, and from the library service, subject to a contribution of £171,719 to expand Bicester Library to meet the additional demand from an estimate 1,800 residents.

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It signals that a contributions towards expanding Bicester Day Centre may be sought once work on impact is complete relating to adult day services.

A firm commitment is asked on delivering the mobility hub, medical facility or contributions, and better consideration of vulnerable groups in air-quality and noise assessments.

Cherwell District Council, the planning authority, is due to make a decision by June 25, 2026.