Outline planning permission has been granted for the development of 'Kingsmere' a new community in South West Bicester, Oxfordshire. The scheme designed for the 287 acre site includes up to 1,585 new homes and a wide range of community facilities.
A high quality sustainable urban extension to Bicester will be created. It will provide much needed new housing of all types and tenures, educational facilities including a new secondary school, together with 40 acres of land for sports pitches and playing fields, and other community facilities incorporated in a new neighbourhood centre.
A 'health village' with the provision for a GP surgery, medical centre, community hospital and nursing home has also been included in the masterplan. Education facilities will be strengthened with land reserved for a new secondary and primary school and provision for a second primary school.
To support the new homes a local centre is proposed which will include shops, a community centre, a pub/restaurant and a day nursery. In addition to this the proposals include a new hotel and business/employment space suitable for local and regional employers.
30% of the new homes will be affordable properties available through housing partners, Bromford Housing Group and Paradigm Housing Group. A new landscape-led perimeter road will also be created. A Design Code has been formulated for Kingsmere which sets out a technical specification for the urban design of the development. Two stakeholder workshops have been held in order to inform the Design Code, which is awaiting planning approval.
Infrastructure works should start in 2008 with the first phase of housebuilding commencing in late 2008.
Information correct as at 23/06/2008