Fears new town will 'ruin view' of historical gardens

Plans for a large housing development will ruin the "significant views" from a country house and gardens, its owners have said.

Developer Dorchester Living is planning to build a new town for more than 25,000 people, on the former RAF Upper Heyford site near Bicester in Oxfordshire.

The current owners of nearby Rousham House and Gardens and its working farm have objected to the plans for the Heyford Park development "in the strongest terms".

Paul Silver, chief executive of Dorchester Living, said the development would "not affect the appreciation or setting of the gardens".

The proposed development, which is near to a planned Strategic Rail Freight Interchange and Puy du Fou, a proposed £600m theme park, has been identified as one of 12 proposed new town locations by the government.

The proposals for Heyford Park include new schools, community facilities and business premises and would provide more than 5,000 new jobs, according to Dorchester Living.

Rousham House dates back to 1635, with its landscape garden designed by renowned 18th Century designer William Kent.

It is open to the public throughout the year, with its website describing it as "completely unspoilt and uncommercialised".

In their letter of objection to Cherwell District Council, current owners Charles and Angela Cottrell-Dormer, said the proposed development would have a "harmful impact on adjoining areas".

They said the view from the Eye Catcher, a sham ruin in the gardens, was of "high significance" and would be "significantly harmed" by the proposed development.

"There are numerous views into, out of and across the Rousham farmland, the conservation area, Lower and Upper Heyford and these views are fundamental to Kent's landscape design and the significance of the garden and its Conservation Area.

"The potential for this development to impair the significant views from Rousham and the Rousham Conservation Area must be fully addressed and removed from the proposals so this special place can be fully appreciated for many generations to come."

It comes after TV gardeners Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh warned that the new town "risks causing significant and irreparable damage" to Rousham Gardens in a letter to The Times in November.

Somerton Parish Council previously told the BBC it fears the "unprecedented" levels of development could be an "environmental disaster".

Silver said Heyford Park "represents a highly sustainable location for development".

He added: "The design has been shaped to minimise impact, supported by extensive landscaping including the planting of more than 65,000 trees to integrate the scheme sensitively into the wider landscape."

A target decision date for the plans has been set for 27 March.

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