Banbury,
Oxfordshire

The site is located to the west of Bretch Hill, on the edge of Banbury. It is rectangular in shape and covers some 4.15 hectares of farmland.

Residential development lies to the east of the site, and to the north of the site is the consented development for dwellings which is currently under construction. A further development of dwellings is also located to the northeast of the site, and this is nearing completion of construction. The site will benefit from a new access point from Broughton Road to the south and will be well connected to the existing residential development to the east, as well as Banbury Town Centre.

There is a significant need for housing across the District. The spatial strategy for the District within the Cherwell Local Plan (2011-2031) is for the bulk of the proposed growth to be focused in and around Banbury as a sustainable location for growth. The site is located on the edge of Banbury, within walking and cycling distance of the town centre as well as local facilities on Queensway . New bus stops are proposed on Broughton Road next to the site to provide residents with regular connections to Banbury and Stratford-upon-Avon, utilising the existing bus service along Broughton Road. The site is therefore in a sustainable location, is deliverable and can make a valuable contribution to housing supply in the district.

The proposals, which form part of this consultation, have been informed by the policy requirements in the existing Local Plan and site-specific evidence commissioned by Lone Star Land as set out elsewhere in the consultation. The scheme proposes the delivery of up to 58 new dwellings, inclusive of the delivery of 30% affordable housing. The proposed development will be landscape led, informed by the existing vegetation and the topography of the site, and will provide several community and social benefits. The development will incorporate several areas for soft landscaping and open space, providing an equipped play area for new and existing residents, an area for biodiversity enhancement in the northern field of the site, which will support an overall 10% biodiversity net gain, and sustainable urban drainage systems.

An informal pedestrian route is proposed to connect the development into the consented scheme to the north, creating links to the play area, and providing onward connections to Bretch Hill. Following submission of a planning application, Lone Star Land will engage with the Council and statutory consultees in establishment of necessary development contributions required to mitigate the impacts of development on local infrastructure, services and facilities.

Lone Star Land have worked collaboratively with the Council in development of the proposals for the site and have already undertaken a pre-application enquiry. This public consultation forms the next step of the formulation of an outline planning application, informed by both detailed evidence and engagement with the community, Council and key stakeholders.