What's next for Oxfordshire's cancelled New Town?

Six months ago, the government announced plans for a New Town in north Oxfordshire, to deliver 13,000 homes on a former RAF base.

But last week, Heyford Park New Town was removed from the list.

The government has instead decided to proceed with seven other sites, including two larger options along the Oxford to Cambridge corridor, at Milton Keynes and Tempsford in Bedford.

But why was Heyford Park removed from the New Town programme and what's next for the existing community of 1,300 homes?

Even before this week's decision was announced, the 505-hectare brownfield site at Heyford Park was described by government as needing "considerable transport planning and forward funding for infrastructure".

It highlighted that additional bus routes and active travel would be required to join up with nearby railway stations.

According to the government, plans were "relatively small" compared to other proposals in the area between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge known as the OxCam arc.

Developments at Milton Keynes and Tempsford are both expected to deliver 40,000 homes each.

But more homes may still come.

The proposed site sits next to a partly-developed community with 1,300 homes already built.

Developer Dorchester Living owns both areas and has a planning application to build 9,000 additional houses on the land previously earmarked for the New Town.

The government said that any new development may "continue to be supported through existing government housing programmes".

But there are concerns that without being part of the New Town initiative, vital services might fall behind the house-building targets.

Gareth Epps represents the area on the county council and said the decision to leave Heyford Park off the list meant more uncertainty for residents.

"What the New Town programme would have done is give us some certainty on what we'd have at the end - because they were looking to support things that are very difficult to provide in large new developments, like GP surgeries.

"We know that developments always come with a battle to get the infrastructure that we need.

"That battle is going to be that much harder if we're looking at large speculative planning applications without the tools that the New Town programme would've offered," he said.

Residents already living on Heyford Park described the prospect of a New Town on their doorstep as "frightening," but said being part of a government programme would have offered some direction for the existing development.

Chair of the Heyford Park Community Action Group, James Schall, said the development needed "facilities, amenities as well as much needed infrastructure".

He urged local authorities to make sure the developers "delivered what was promised for the current residents, before being given any permission to expand their fiefdom".

Paul Silver, chief executive of Dorchester Living, said there was "a great deal more to come" for the community.

He highlighted that there was already facilities including a hotel, restaurant, bowling alley, school, nursery, pharmacy, running club and gym.

"Heyford Park has grown into a vibrant community with an exceptional range of amenities, far exceeding what is typically found in comparable developments.

"At the heart of Heyford Park is our commitment to creating not just homes, but a truly thriving community.

"This is something we are immensely proud of, and it's reflected in the genuine sense of belonging and pride shared by the majority of residents," he said.

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