Some of the development land
The planning applications are now in
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The aerial view below, taken in 1992, shows St Andrew's Church in the centre foreground. The continuous hedge starting in the middle of the right-hand side marks both the Bayswater Brook and the boundary of the city of Oxford. The fields to the south of that hedge are now Barton Park, and the current proposal is to build on the fields to the north of that hedge, continuing all the way from the Marston flyover to Bayswater Road to the east.
Land North of Bayswater Brook: Scoping Opinions
Thr first Scoping Opinion was submitted in 2018 just to South Oxfordshire District Council, who responded on 23 March 2018. SODC does not appear to put these opinions online. There were three Scoping Opinions submitted to Oxford City Council (for consultation purposes only on the proposed development:
- 19/00924/SCOPE
“Scoping Opinion on Proposed Development of 1,100 dwellings,
associated facilities and means of access”:
10 October 2019: “No Decision Required - PUBREG/CONSLT” - 22/01337/SCOPE
“Scoping Opinion on a Proposed Development of up to 1,450 residential units, assisted living accommodation,
associated facilities and means of access”:
August 2022: “No Decision Required - PUBREG/CONSLT” - 22/02297/SCOPE
“Scoping Opinion on a Proposed Development of up to 1,450 residential units, assisted living accommodation,
associated facilities and means of access”:
August 2022: “No Decision Required - PUBREG/CONSLT”
First four planning applications (submitted in 2023)
>>>> Resubmitted in September 2023 for comments on revised documents
>>>> In October 2023 Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management announced that they were launching three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to (1) and (2) for failure to give notice of a decision:
(1) Infrastructure (full planning application)
Submitted to both South Oxfordshire District Council and to Oxford City Council, as the proposed bus road, cycle bridge from Northway, small footbridges, and bund & wall at Barton itself would all affect the city
A planning application with 333 documents relating to the infrastructure of the land north of Bayswater Brook was submitted by Dorchester Residential Management and Christ Church Oxford to South Oxfordshire District Council and also to Oxford City Council, as there are big implications for Headington (validated 10 January 2023). It is for:
Erection of new A40 cycle and pedestrian bridge and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works
Formation of new vehicular access onto Elsfield Lane and associated Elsfield Lane/Woodeaton Road/Marston interchange access and highway improvement works
Formation of 2 no. new vehicular accesses onto Bayswater Road and associated highway improvement works on Bayswater Road
Formation of 2 no. new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook with associated bus route connection works, including public transport-only accesses onto the A40 and Barton Village Road
Formation of 5 no. pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works
Associated flood alleviation measures along sections of the Bayswater Brook
Associated landscape and infrastructure work.
Current Oxford City Council full planning application 22/03049/FUL (appeal planned)
Current South Oxfordshire District Council full planning application P22/S4596/FUL (appeal planned)
(2) Buildings (hybrid planning application: part outline and part full)
Submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, but not to the city
A hybrid planning application relating to the buildings on this land was registered with South Oxfordshire District Council only on 10 January 2023.
(a) Outline planning permission for up to:
(1) 1,450 new dwellings (Class C3)
(2) 120 units of Assisted Living dwellings, with ancillary communal and care facilities (Class C2/C3)
(3) 560 sq.m of new community use buildings (Class F2)
(4) 500 sq.m of new commercial/business/service buildings/health provision (Class E)
(5) 2,600 sq.m of new Primary School (Class F1)
(6) Creation of areas of green infrastructure, including areas of open space, allotments, habitats, recreation facilities and public park areas
(7) Associated transport, parking, access, surface water and utility infrastructure works
(b) Full planning permission for:
(1) Change of Use to Class E and associated refurbishment works to the Main Barn and 3no. curtilage barns at Wick Farm
(2) Change of Use to Class F1 and associated refurbishment works to the Wick Farm Well House building
(3) Erection of New Build barn-style building (Class E)
(4) Erection of New Build building containing back-of-house facilities for the Main Barn-style building (Class E)
(5) Erection of New Build Community Space building (Class F2)
(6) Associated transport, parking associated with the local centre, access and utility infrastructure works
(7) Demolition of identified buildings
(8) Associated landscaping, public realm and market garden
Current South Oxfordshire District Council hybrid planning application P22/S4618/O (appeal planned).
(3) Full planning application for Listed Building consent re barns and well house at Wick Farm
Submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council
Planning application for Listed Building consent for “Refurbishment works to the Main Barn and three curtilage barns and refurbishment works to the Wick Farm Well House building”
Current South Oxfordshire District Council planning application P22/S4550/LB
The fourth planning application has been WITHDRAWN, following the revision of the proposed bus route from Barton Village Road into the development. This was submitted to South Oxford District Council for Listed Building consent to move the boundary stone marked T.W. and dated 1684 in the field that Christ Church bought from the Oxford Preservation Trust:
Withdrawn SODC planning application P23/S1832/LB
Background
On 18 October 2013 the Oxford Mail reported that Christ Church might add its land to the north-west of Barton Park (Lower Elsfield) to that development: “Christ Church land may link into Barton housing estate”.
Eventually however the college came up with a plan for a separate estate, and early in 2019 purchased Wick Farming Ltd (the Wick Farm barns, well house, and land, but not the farmhouse) from the Aubrey-Fletcher family for c.£20million. It proposed the conjoined 272 acres of land as a strategic site in the SODC Local Plan. Then it purchased from the Oxford Preservation Trust the field between Lower Farm and Wick Farm, which was also taken out of the Green Belt.
On 5 March 2020 the new LibDem administration at SODC reluctantly allowed the Green Belt land to be included in the SODC Local Plan 2011–2034 (which had been agreed by the previous Conservative administration) after being told by the Government's Communities Minister Robert Jenrick that they legally had to take it forward. From 14 July to 7 August 2020 Planning Inspector Jonathan Bore undertook an examination via Microsoft Teams into the soundness of the Plan:
On 10 December 2020 South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) voted to accept its final Local Plan. This removed from the Green Belt the vast area of land (now owned entirely by Christ Church) that protects Headington north of Bayswater Brook.
- SODC: Full Adoption Statement
- SODC Press Release: “Councillors vote to adopt South Oxfordshire Local Plan”
This Plan encroaches on the Oxford Green Belt on all sides of the city. It includes 1,100 houses initially to the north of the Bayswater Brook in Headington on land owned by Christ Church. This land stretches from the Marston flyover in the west to Bayswater Road in the east, and although it is technically outside the city and comes under South Oxfordshire District Council, it was once considered to be part of Headington. It runs along the immediate north side of the brook opposite Northway to the east, Barton Park in the middle and Barton itself to the east. The last three old surviving farms of Headington: Wick Farm, Stowford Farm, and Lower Farm (formerly known as Barton Farm) will be lost. Although so near to Headington, this land falls into the parliamentary constituency of Henley-on-Thames.
What remains of Bayswater Farm to the east of the Bayswater Road (north of Sandhills and south of the Bayswater Brook) was also included in the SODC Local Plan, but was excluded from the Scoping Opinion (see below) which only includes the Christ Church land. The Cilldara Group (Headington) Ltd bought that site in February 2021 but no plans have yet been submitted.
Christ Church is acting through “Thomas Wolsey Property Ltd”, named after the college's founder Cardinal Wolsey, and its principal activity is stated to be holding land for development. They had the whole site thoroughly surveyed in March 2019.
In October 2022 the Oxford Preservation Trust announced that they had sold a four-acre field in Barton (bought in the 1930s to preserve open views from Headington), with covenants preventing any buildings from being put up. Christ Church was the purchaser of this field, which is at the north end of Barton Village Road at the bottom of the hill, as their planning application shows the bus route going through it.
Archaeological survey, Spring 2020
An archaeological survey is a condition of any large development. Oxford Archaeology (who also did the excavations prior to the Westgate Centre development) started work in early March 2020 at the west end of the site, and by 7 April had reached Wick Farm, finishing at the Bayswater Road. Two JCB diggers prepared the trenches, and then the archaeologists moved in. The trenches have been filled in and crops were sown, but they alerted people to the massive extent of the proposed development.
Trenches near Northway, with Plowman's Tower in the background
This photograph of a flooded archaeological trench opposite Barton Park was taken on 24 March 2020.
A digger and more trenches are visible in the background
The digger approaches Wick Farm on 7 April 2020
Archaeological trenches advance uphill towards Beckley (television mast just visible in centre) on 9 April 2020
Archaeologists working in field near Barton Neighbourhood Centre, 24 April 2020
Importance of the proposed development site
Historical
Wick Farmhouse, its two sets of gate piers, and barn are all Grade II listed. Its well-house is Grade II*, but is on the Historic England “Heritage at Risk” register because of slow decay. There are also the remains of a Roman villa near the farm.
- Roman remains found near Wick Farm
- Listed Buildings of Headington: Wick Farm
- Wick Farm well house on Historic England At Risk register
Stowford Farmhouse is Grade II listed:
There is a Grade II listed boundary stone dated 1684, marking the point where Headington Manor ends, in the path of the proposed bus route, plus two other stones, as well as a small ancient bridge:
Natural
The site adjoins Sydlings Copse Nature Reserve and College Pond, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
The battle to stop the SODC Local Plan
In the local elections of May 2019 the Liberal Democrats took control of SODC away from the Conservatives, largely because of the unpopularity of their Local Plan. In October 2019 the new administration appeared to be on the point of withdrawing the plan, but the Government intervened. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick wrote to the council leader Sue Cooper just before the SODC meeting on 10 October 2019 ordering them “not to take any step in connection with the adoption of the Plan, while I consider the matter further”. He wrote a second letter on 7 January 2020.
On 12 February 2020 Oxfordshire County Council decided to accept the possible government invitation to progress South Oxfordshire District Council's Local Plan 2034, and the battle ended on 7 March 2020. The above archaeological survey started immediately afterwards.
In March 2021 the Hon. Mr Justice Dove refused permission to Bioabundance to proceed with an application for judicial review against South Oxfordshire District Council’s decision to adopt its Local Plan.
Press reports and statements (reverse date order)
- Oxford Mail, 4 May 2023:
“Plans for 1,450 homes in Oxford risks strain on GPs” - Oxford Mail, 1 May 2023:
“Plan to build nearly 1,500 new homes in Oxford to be considered” - Oxford Mail, 30 March 2021:
“Court decision on South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 revealed” - Oxford Mail, 27 April 2020:
“Diggers move in for archaeology survey of massive housing site” - Oxford Mail, 7 March 2020:
“South Oxfordshire District Council forced to accept Local Plan despite fears over new housing” - Oxford Mail, 11 February 2020:
“South Oxfordshire Local Plan takeover agreed by county council” - Statement by SODC leader dated 11 February 2020 to Oxfordshire County's decision
- Oxford Mail, 17 October 2019:
“South Oxfordshire council 'in limbo' after minister housing decree” - Oxford Mail, 16 October 2019:
Layla Moran: “Government homes intervention is a disgrace” - Oxford Mail, 12 October 2019:
“Boos during key South Oxfordshire District Council Local Plan meeting” - Oxford Mail, 10 October 2019:
“Government tells SODC it cannot scrap its Local Plan as planned tonight” - Oxford Mail, 6 September 2019:
“Council told it must build homes if it wants to keep millions of pounds of funding”
Ownership of the land
Christ Church bought the farmland between Elsfield and Marston/Headington after the First World War, and at the end of 2018 also bought the land to the east as far as the Bayswater Road (excluding the land occupied by the homes of Buswell Park). The college registered the land under following two companies:
- Thomas Wolsey Property Ltd (incorporated in Cambridge on 24 November 2017)
Its directors are The Very Revd Martyn Percy (the Dean of Christ Church); James Lawrie (Treasurer of Christ Church); and M & R Secretarial Services Ltd.
Classification: Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified - Wick Farming Ltd (incorporated in Oxford on 20 September 2012 when the farm was bought by the Aubrey-Fletchers)
Its registered office is now The Treasury, Christ Church, and on 8 December 2018 James Lawrie (Treasurer of Christ Church) and Keith Stratford (College Accountant of Christ Church) were appointed directors (in place of Harry Buchanan Aubrey-Fletcher, Sir Henry Egerton Aubrey-Fletcher, John Robert Aubrey-Fletcher, Thomas Egerton Aubrey-Fletcher, and the solicitor Peter Robert Michael Bond).
Classification: Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops, and oil seeds
Then in October 2022 the Oxford Preservation Trust announced that they had sold the missing piece of the jigsaw to Christ Church, namely the 4½ acre field immediately to the east of Lower Farm (formerly known as Barton Farm), enabling the developers to run a bus route into the site.
The South Oxfordshire Local Plan
The entire South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011–2034 can be viewed here as a PDF, but as it is very slow to load, the relevant extract relating to the Bayswater Brook site (pp. 68–73) is reproduced below. This includes land to the east of the Bayswater Road (north of Sandhills) that was removed from the Scoping Opinion.
Land north of Bayswater Brook
4.107 Land north of Bayswater Brook directly adjoins the eastern boundary of Oxford City. The site is entirely within the Oxford Green Belt. The Local Plan proposes to inset this site from the Green Belt. The exceptional circumstances for doing this are:
- The site's proximity to major employment locations and a wide range of services and facilities means that there is high potential to support travel by walking and cycling;
- The site is well positioned to connect with public transport provision in Oxford City; and
- The development of this site will help to provide for Oxford City's unmet housing need, including affordable housing need, close to where that need arises.
4.108 The western and northern parts of the site are within a highly sensitive landscape, with views to and from Oxford's historic core, as well as having strong connections with surrounding countryside. The western and northern parts of the site are of particular significance to Oxford's historic setting. Built development should avoid these sensitive areas and should instead be focused on the lower lying ground on the south and east of the site, which has a greater likelihood to accommodate acceptable development in landscape terms, as it is less visible from the wider area and has higher potential for mitigation to be achieved.
4.109 Development focused on the lower lying ground on the south and east of the site must be sensitive to the listed buildings within and surrounding the site, including their setting, as well as being sensitive to the site's archaeological potential. Appropriate detailed landscape and visual impact assessments and heritage impact assessments that demonstrate how harm to heritage assets, landscape and Oxford's historic setting will be avoided must be provided as part of any planning application.
4.110 A designated Oxford viewcone lies directly to the west of the site. This area is safeguarded for access only and is not proposed to be inset from the Green Belt. Other built development within the Oxford viewcone would harm the rural nature of this historic view. The layout and design of access arrangement in this area should be sensitive to the Oxford viewcone.
4.111 Sidlings Copse and College Pond SSSI and Wick Copse Ancient Woodland are located directly to the north of the site. These are fragile sites comprising rare habitats which could suffer under increased visitor pressure. Other potential indirect impacts of development, such as impacts on hydrology and air pollution and nutrient deposition, also need to be considered and managed.
4.112 The Bayswater Brook runs along the south of the site. Areas of Flood Zone 2 and 3 should be preserved as accessible green space, with built development restricted to Flood Zone 1.
4.113 The Bayswater Brook is designated as a Site of Local Importance to Nature Conservation in the Oxford City Local Plan. Existing habitats associated with the brook should be protected and opportunities for enhancement should be pursued. The adjoining Barton Park development proposes a linear park alongside the Bayswater Brook as a buffer between the watercourse and built development. There is an opportunity to mirror this with complementary provision on this site.
4.114 Whilst the site directly adjoins Oxford City and is within relatively close proximity to employment locations and a wide range of services and facilities, the A40 is a major physical barrier to connectivity, particularly in terms of walking and cycling. Development would need to provide on-site and off-site pedestrian, cycle and public transport to Oxford city centre and other key employment locations (such as the John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Science and Business Parks).
4.115 Road capacity to the east of Oxford is already under significant pressure, particularly along the A40 and the Headington roundabout. There is currently insufficient road capacity to support new, direct road access between the site and the A40 west of the Barton Park site.
4.116 The English Indices of Deprivation 2015 identified the adjoining area of Barton as being within the20% most deprived areas in England. Barton is identified as a priority regeneration in the Oxford City Local Plan. Development at Land North of Bayswater Brook has potential to support regeneration aspirations for Barton by increasing the viability and contributing to the improvement of existing services and facilities and by providing new accessible services and facilities.
4.117 The site is located in an area of archaeological interest, within an area of a known Roman settlement. Deposits include the line of a possible Roman road as well as a number of possible Roman settlement sites. Land North of Bayswater Brook is also immediately adjacent to the site of Headington Wisk [sic] Roman Villa. Any surviving aspects of the Headington Wisk [sic] Roman villa site or related high status Roman settlement could be considered to be of similar significance to a scheduled monument.
4.118 The Grade II* listed Wick Farmhouse Well House is located within the site boundary. This listed building is currently included on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. Development at Land North of Bayswater Brook provides an opportunity to improve the condition of this listed building.
Policy STRAT13: Land North of Bayswater Brook
Site area: 112ha hectares [= 277 acres]
1. Land within the strategic allocation at Land North of Bayswater Brook will be developed to deliver approximately 1,100 new homes and supporting services and facilities within the plan period.
2. Proposals to develop Land North of Bayswater Brook will be expected to deliver:
(i) affordable housing provision and mix in accordance with Policy H9;
(ii) development densities in accordance with Policy STRATS;
(iii) sufficient educational capacity likely to be a 2-form entry primary school including early years provision, appropriate contributions towards an off-site secondary school and Special Educational Needs (SEN);
(iv) sufficient contributions towards enabling primary healthcare services to address patient growth association with the development, as set out in the infrastructure Delivery Plan;
(v) provision of convenience floorspace that meets the day-to-day needs of the local community only without impacting on the vitality and viability of existing centres in accordance with Policy TC2 – Retail Hierarchy;
(vi) all necessary transport improvement as set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which is likely to include:
a. provision of high quality pedestrian, cycle and public transport access and connectivity to Oxford City Centre and other major employment locations, particularly the John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Science and Business Parks;
b. provision of sustainable transport connectivity improvements to overcome severance caused by the A40 Oxford Bypass; and
c. provision of all necessary highways infrastructure as set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which is likely to include a new road access between the site and the A40/B4150/Marsh Lane junction, and either a new road link between the site and the A40 between the Thornhill Park and Ride junction and the Church Hill junction for Forest Hill, or significant upgrades to the existing A40 Northern Oxford Bypass road including at the A40/A4142 Headington Roundabout. If more detailed evidence indicates that the preferred mitigation is a new link road, land will need to be identified and secured for delivery of this in consultation with the land owners and County Council;
(vii) a schedule of works as agreed with the Council for the repair of the Grade II* Wick Farm Wellhouse identified on the 2018 Heritage at Risk. This is to be agreed prior to the determination of an application for development. An application for planning permission must be accompanied by an application for listed building consent for the works to the Wellhouse; and
(viii) a development that ensures that there will be no demonstrable negative recreational, hydrological or air quality impacts on the Sidlings Copse and College Pond SSSI.
3. The proposed development at Land North of Bayswater Brook will deliver a scheme in accordance with an agreed comprehensive masterplan taking into consideration this policy's inclusive concept plan. The masterplan must be prepared in collaboration and agreed with the Local Planning Authority. Proposals will be expected to deliver a masterplan that has been informed by detailed landscape, visual, heritage and ecological impact assessments and demonstrates an appropriate scale, layout and form that:
(i) focuses built development within Flood Zone 1 only, with areas of Flood Zone 2 and 3 preserved as accessible green space
(ii) respects listed buildings and structures, both within and surrounding the site, and their settings;
(iii) ensures appropriate highways and sustainable transport access and permeability across the site, including between Bayswater Road and the B4150 Marsh Lane/A40 junction;
(iv) provides a permanent defensible Green Belt boundary around the allocation and a strong countryside edge;
(v) retains and incorporates existing hedgerows and tree belts, particularly where this assists with the creation of a new Green Belt boundary;
(vi) relates to and connects with adjoining built development and development that is planned within Oxford City;
(vii) respects and avoids harm to Oxford's historic setting;
(viii) minimises visual impacts on the surrounding countryside;
(ix) provides a network of green infrastructure that:
a. retains and incorporates areas of functional flood plan and existing surface water flow paths;
b. protects and enhances existing habitats, particularly those associated [with] Sidlings Copse and College Pond SSSI and the Bayswater Brook;
c. connects with adjoining green infrastructure within Oxford City;
d. retains and incorporates existing public rights of way and supports movement through the site and into adjoining areas by walking and cycling; and
e. provides an appropriate buffer to the Oxford viewcone.
4. An archaeological assessment will need to be undertaken before the determination of any planning application for this site. Following this assessment, a scheme of appropriate mitigation should be established, to include the physical preservation of significant archaeological features and their setting where appropriate.
5. The number and phasing of homes to be permitted and the timing of housing delivery linked to the planned infrastructure need to be informed by further evidence as per the requirements of other policies in the plan including Policy TRANS4. This will be agreed (and potentially conditioned) through the planning application process, in consultation with the relevant statutory authority.
Scoping Opinions
On 3 April 2019 the Pegasus Group (on behalf of Christ Church, Oxford) submitted a request to SODC for an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Opinion for the construction of up to 1,100 residential dwellings, local centre, primary school, and associated infrastructure on all the college's land to the north of the Bayswater Brook, Oxford. The site plan does not match that in the SODC Local Plan, as it does not include the land to the east of the Bayswater Road. This Scoping Opinion was formally adopted by SODC on 27 May 2019:
- Adopted Scoping Opinion P19/S1122/SCO
- Petition against this development
- Oxford Mail, 18 April 2019: “Questions over city's new 1,100 Green Belt homes”
- Insider Media: “1,100-home Oxon scheme moves forward”
On 10 October 2019 Oxford City Council planners decreed “No Decision Required - PUBREG/CONSLT” on the planning application submitted to them by the Pegasus Group relating to the Scoping Opinion: see 19/00924/CONSLT
Another scoping opinion request relating to the environmental impact assessment was submitted in March 2022: P22/S1148/SCO. The decision letter of 6 May 2022 confirmed that SODC had adopted the Scoping Opinion, but lists issues that were not satisfactorily addressed.
Oxford City Council decided on 10 August 2022 that no decision was required on the most recent scoping opinion: 22/01337/CONSLT
Surveying of site
In March 2019 Brunel Surveys Ltd began to survey the site, starting near Marston flyover and working east. By 23 April 2019 the surveyors had reached Wick Farm, and the photograph below shows two of them surveying the field next to the Bayswater Brook on that day.
By 27 April 2019 the surveyors had reached the Wick Farm exit on to the Bayswater Road.
Dorchester Residential Management's earlier plans
Not currently relevant: the present proposal is for 1,100 homes on the whole site
The earlier plans listed three options for homes on different parts of the site:
Option 1 |
750–925 homes |
On the Christ Church land to north-west of Barton Park, reaching as far as the Marston flyover and the road to Elsfield (from which the site would be accessed), plus a link to Barton Park at the east end |
Option 2 |
1500–1850 homes |
Again on this Christ Church land but extending the above proposal further north and north-east. This option would also include a new Local Centre providing education and community facilities. This would provide an additional 750 homes to the 1,100 in the SODC Local Plan |
Option 3 |
2900–3250 homes |
On the original Christ Church land and also the land of Wick Farm. This option would include a local centre, two new schools, a retail centre, a country and local park, potential student accommodation, and a cemetery. It would include 405 affordable homes and a further 105 homes for key hospital and university workers. “This option is deliverable within the 2033 plan period.” The benefits to SODC include £5.6million p.a. estimated annual increase in Council Tax revenue. |
For comparison, by 1977 there were 1,600 houses on the Barton council estate (less than half the maximum number of homes proposed for this Bayswater Oxford project), and Barton Park will eventually have 885 homes |
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Background
On 5 February 2018 the Pegasus Group submitted an earlier scoping opinion request (P18/S0399/SCO) for the construction of up to 750 residential dwellings, a local centre, and associated infrastructure on their land. SODC responded on 23 March 2018, and this Scoping Opinion has been used to inform the content of the revised scoping request above.
South Oxfordshire District Council agreed on 5 December 2018 to add the Bayswater Brook site to its Local Plan. The draft plan discussed by the SODC Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 13 December (agenda and minutes). The SODC Cabinet examined the proposals on 18 December (agenda) to make a recommendation for consideration at the full SODC meeting on Thursday 20 December (agenda), where it was accepted:
- Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, 6 December 2018: “SODC stabs Green Belt in the back”
- Oxford Mail, 21 December 2018: “South Oxfordshire District Council accepts Local Plan”
- Oxford Mail, 28 December 2018: “Campaigners furious over planned Green Belt developments”
On 20 December 2018 South Oxfordshire District Council voted to approve the published version of its new Local Plan, and the six-week consultation closed on 18 February 2019.
Earlier publicity about two separate developments on this site
These date from the period before Christ Church bought the Wick Farm site from the Aubrey-Fletchers, and so these plans have been superseded:
Possible Christ Church development
The possibility of this development was first revealed in October 2013 when Christ Church wrote to Oxford City Council in 2013 to say that in the long term it would be interested in “exploring potential opportunities to work with the city council to bring forward land that could help serve and support the Barton strategic development site”.
- Oxford Mail, 18 October 2013: “Christ Church land may link into Barton housing estate”
- Oxford Mail, 14 October 2016:“Plans for 3,000 homes on the northeast edge of Oxford could include housing and parking for hospital workers”
- Oxford Mail, 16 February 2018: “College reveals plans for 750-home estate right next to Barton Park”
- Oxford Mail, 10 March 2018:“Christ Church, Oxford, calls public meeting over 750-home plan”
Possible Wick Farm development
Harry Aubrey-Fletcher and his family (Wick Farming Ltd), bought the 280-acre Wick Farm site from Buswell's in 2012, and the adjoining Stowford Farm soon afterwards, and in 2017 announced their hope of building 1,850 homes there, plus a car park for the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Wick Farm Ltd and would-be house-builder Berkeley Homes (Southern) Ltd (now Berkeley Strategic Land Ltd) also mentioned the possibility of building the following facilities on Wick Farm: (1) a 250-bedroom accommodation block for the new Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, (2) a 100-bed convalescent home for older patients to ease bed-blocking at the hospitals, (3) a car park for the hospitals with a shuttle bus, and (4) a 20-acre parkland cemetery next to the Crematorium, but some of these ideas now seem to have been discarded.
- Oxford Mail, 30 March 2017: “HOSPITAL SOLUTION: Plans revealed for key worker housing and extra parking on land outside Barton”
- Oxford Mail, 2 April 2018:“Wick Farm could be used to solve Oxford's housing crisis”
- Oxford Mail, 4 May 2017: “Fury in Barton at plan for 2,000 homes near estate”
In May 2017 South Oxfordshire District Council agreed that prior approval was not required for Aubrey-Fletcher's planning application for Wick Farm for "Change of use of agricultural buildings to storage of moveable storage containers" (P17/S1055/PDA).
On 7 December 2018 two members of Christ Church Treasury became directors of Wick Farm Ltd in place of the Aubrey-Fletchers, but not of Buswell's Park, which has wood-framed homes.
