Why the Government scrapped plans for Bicester ‘New Town’

Dorchester Living has built 1,200 of the planned 13,000 homes on the former RAF site near Bicester over 15 years, which is a £5 bn project.

Plans for 9,000 new homes at the site were dropped when the government cut its new towns list from twelve to seven earlier this week. However, plans could still go ahead if they are approved by Cherwell District Council.

The six remaining locations are expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes with several delivering 40,000 or more in the decades to come.

The Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), said: “To ensure credible delivery of the programme in the long-term, the government has prioritised those places that demonstrate the strongest evidence of impact.”

Heyford Park will not receive money from the Government to contribute towards an affordable housing fund and new investment agency, which would be set up to help encourage house building.

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However, the Government has confirmed it will “continue to look at further ways they can be supported through existing housebuilding programmes.”

No final decision will be made on locations or delivery until the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process. This is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The MHCLG said: “This requires the Government to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed locations and to consider and assess the environmental impacts of any reasonable alternatives to achieve the programme objectives.”