Plans to build up to 72 homes along with a care home as part of a massive development within Bicester, Oxfordshire, have been lodged. Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited submitted the application to build the homes on the former agricultural land west of Oxford Road, south of Bicester town centre.
The new homes would be part of the Kingsmere development for up to 1,585 homes, a local centre, schools, a hotel, and other amenities, which was granted outline planning permission in 2008.
The new plans aim to be integrated within the existing community at Kingsmere, create a walkable neighbourhood with connections to the wider cycle network, walking and cycling links to green spaces, including into Pingle Brook, and provide direct access to bus stops on Oxford Road and Middleton Stoney Road.
They also include access to Wincanton Road. The care home would have 75 bedrooms, and the site would have a mix of market and affordable homes, and up to 35 per cent of the homes would be affordable.
The application is outline, which means the developer will have to submit another application detailing the project once outline planning permission has been granted. Cherwell District Council’s planning committee will consider the application in due course.
The same developer also applied to build 100 homes, which was later reduced to up to 57 homes, on the same site in 2018, along with a ‘safeguarded’ area for a GP surgery. While it did receive planning permission from the district council, that permission has since lapsed.
The planning statement from the developer stated: “Building upon the foundation of the original 2008 masterplan, the proposal adheres to the established design code and complements the character and infrastructure of the surrounding phases.
“The inclusion of affordable housing, biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage systems, and improved pedestrian and cycling connections ensures the development meets community needs while addressing environmental sustainability.”
The design and access statement added: “The proposed development will complement the local character, working with the site’s assets to create an attractive addition to the Kingsmere development.
“The proposed masterplan will integrate with the existing settlement, promoting health, happiness and well-being among the community, providing a range of house types and styles, prioritising the pedestrian and encouraging time outdoors.”
Two schools have opened on the development, with St Edburg’s CE Primary School relocating to the site in 2016 to increase its size, and Whitelands Academy secondary school opening in 2020.
A new extension to St Edburg’s School within the Kingsmere development opened in September 2024 to help meet demand for school places in the area.
