Plans submitted for 9,000 homes at Heyford Park

Dorchester Living has submitted outline plans for the next 9,000-home phase of Heyford Park.

The former RAF Upper Heyford airbase in Oxfordshire has already seen 1,200 homes and a school delivered and now the new application, which includes further schools, community facilities, employment space, supporting up to 5,000 jobs, and extensive green infrastructure, is likely to create one of the county’s most ambitious new communities.

The 9,000 homes will include 2,700 affordable properties, along with 900 assisted living units and 180 homes for key workers.

Plans submitted to Cherwell District Council include upgrading nearby Heyford Station and improvements to the Cherwell Valley Line service providing connections between Banbury and Didcot, alongside enhanced bus routes and walking and cycling routes. Longer term there are hopes to reopen Ardley Station.

The airfield runway will become Runway Park and serve as a multi-functional destination, offering wide-ranging leisure options. The land will accommodate 65,000 new trees.

Dorchester Living says the long-term ambition is for Heyford Park to become the UK’s first energy surplus town, generating more energy than it consumes through a combination of solar and wind power generation, energy-efficient design and low-carbon transport.

The masterplan has been developed by Proctor & Matthews Architects and landscape architect Kim Wilkie, with sustainable movement strategies from Mode Transport.

Paul Silver, chief executive of Dorchester Living, said: “This is a pivotal moment in the evolution of Heyford Park.

“The masterplan we’ve submitted is the result of years of careful thinking and extensive collaboration with a variety of different groups including Heyford Park Parish, Great Western Rail, Heyford Park Schools and the wider local community.

“This is underpinned by our genuine belief that growth can be delivered in a way that’s community-led and environmentally conscious.

“Our goal is to deliver something exceptional and exemplar for Oxfordshire, and a national blueprint for how towns can and should be delivered in the UK, a place that not only provides homes and jobs but supports a way of life that is healthier, greener and genuinely future proof.

“From green energy and biodiversity to education, care and connectivity, we’re laying the foundations for a community that will thrive for generations to come.”

Stephen Proctor, co-founder of Proctor & Matthews Architects, said: “Heyford Park presents a rare opportunity to rethink how large-scale development can respond to the social, environmental and economic challenges of our time.

“Our masterplan is built around a series of distinct neighbourhoods, each shaped by the site’s unique history and landscape. These new places will be connected by green corridors, walkable streets and shared public spaces – creating a sense of identity, belonging and long-term sustainability from the outset.

“Central to the masterplan design is the innovative re-use and integration of existing airfield infrastructure and historic structures. This approach will create a distinct urban landscape that reflects the site’s rich heritage.”

Subject to approval, Dorchester Living hopes to gain consent by early 2026.

Visit: www.heyfordpark.com/heyford-park-masterplan

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