DEVASSIST: Plans Submitted for 9,000-home Energy-Positive Settlement in Oxfordshire
A major planning application has been lodged for the redevelopment of the former RAF Upper Heyford airbase in Oxfordshire, with proposals centred on creating what is described as the UK’s first town to generate more renewable energy than it consumes.
Developer Dorchester Living has submitted a hybrid planning application to Cherwell District Council for a new mixed-use community of up to 9,000 homes across a 498-hectare site at Heyford Park, Bicester. Around 2,700 of the properties would be affordable housing.
The application covers outline permission for 8,848 new dwellings, alongside the conversion of four existing buildings into a further 152 homes. The proposals also include:
- 40,650 sq m of new commercial, business and service space
- 5,500 sq m of hotel accommodation
- 4,610 sq m of light industrial development
- 2,600 sq m of warehouse space
Community infrastructure would form a significant element of the scheme, with plans for four primary schools, one secondary school, a community centre, pub and restaurant facilities, and a data centre. Renewable energy infrastructure, including three wind turbines, solar arrays and battery storage systems, is also proposed.
The site, currently used for a mix of commercial, storage, car processing and agricultural activities, has been earmarked for growth in the council’s emerging Local Plan. The 2015 Local Plan allocated land for 2,400 homes and 120,000 sq m of employment space, with around 1,100 dwellings already delivered and another 1,500 consented.
Consultancy Pegasus Group is advising Dorchester Living on the project. The planning application was validated on 5 September, with a target determination date set for 26 December 2025.
According to the planning statement, the land is predominantly brownfield, vacated by the US Air Force in 1994. A settlement of around 1,500 homes with local services has already been established at Heyford Park.
Alongside housing and employment land, the proposals outline major transport improvements. These include upgrades to Heyford Station, enhanced rail services along the Cherwell Valley Line, and expanded bus, walking and cycling connections. Approximately 60% of the site is intended as open space, with a commitment to delivering at least 10% biodiversity net gain.
Dorchester Living’s long-term vision is to establish Heyford Park as a renewable energy surplus town, achieved through wind and solar generation, energy-efficient design, and low-carbon transport measures.
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