PLANS for 3,500 new homes as part of the eco-town in north-west Bicester have taken a step forward after developers applied for planning permission.

Bicester residents were able to view and react to the proposals during the summer when they were on display in Pioneer Square. Following a positive reception, developers A2Dominion have decided to push ahead with the project without any major changes.

The plans for Lords Lane and Howes Lane include two primary schools, a secondary school, shops, offices and restaurants.

Nine hundred homes have been proposed for the Howes Lane site and 2,600 for the Lords Lane site, with up to 30 per cent of properties to be “affordable”.

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A2Dominion have applied for outline planning permission, which asks the council to approve the general principle of development of the site.

Precise details can then be agreed at a later date.

Cherwell District councillor for Bicester West Les Sibley said he welcomed the application despite some reservations.

He said: “We waited for a long time for a secondary school in this area of Bicester and I think most people will be glad that it is going to come to fruition at long last.

“The planned cycleways and pathways will link people up and that is good because I would like greater connectivity in Bicester.

“However there are employment issues. Part of the plan was that for every home there would be a job, so if this is the start of 3,500 new homes I wonder how that will work.

“I am also concerned about access to the site during construction. Get it wrong and confusion will reign.”

More than 60 per cent of people who responded during the public consultation supported the principle of development on the site.

Almost seven out of 10 people backed plans for up to 30 per cent to be affordable housing.

A2Dominion said it would consider including a doctor’s surgery in the Howes Lane development in response to suggestions. The developer also said it would work with Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to ensure the primary schools, local shops and health centre were built as soon as possible.

Bicester resident and member of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) John Broad said while he had opposed the development initially he was happy with elements of the plans.

He said: “I think it is a bit of a misnomer to call it an eco-town when it is taking away green fields. We want its impact to be mitigated as much as possible and the plan seems to try to do that.

“There should not be an abrupt edge to the urban environment and the developers have tried to do that by tapering off the houses towards the edges.

“We have lost the argument about taking farmland, so now it is about making sure we can mitigate it as much as possible. Hopefully the eco-lamps they will be using will prevent [light pollution].”

A spokesman for A2Dominion said: “We have continued to progress proposals for 509 acres of the north-west Bicester masterplan and are pleased to confirm that two outline planning applications to provide circa 3,500 true zero-carbon homes and supporting facilities have now been submitted to Cherwell District Council.”


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