Banbury planning news
Banbury planning news, newest first: applications, appeals and committee decisions, each story linked back to the council file.
Top story
MOD Bicester Asylum Plan: MPs Reject Motion 309 to 113
MPs voted 309 to 113 against a motion condemning the MOD Bicester asylum plan. Banbury's MP voted against it; Bicester's MP opposed the plan but did not vote.
More stories
Planning
Wroxton Motocross Curbs: Officers Can Now Rewrite Them
Cherwell's Executive agreed on 5 October that officers can rewrite the Wroxton motocross curbs after the operators' legal challenge. Consultation comes next.
Planning
Bloxham Plan Backed 753 to 125: 125 Homes at Painters Farm
Bloxham voted 753 to 125 for its new neighbourhood plan: 125 homes at Painters Farm, land for the school, a burial ground. Full Council decides on 19 October.
Planning
Baynards Green Warehouses: Cherwell Won't Defend Refusal
Cherwell refused three giant warehouse schemes at Baynards Green, then dropped its defence at appeal. A parish fights on at an inquiry due to end 29 October.
Bicester
Bicester Asylum Site A: Three Councils Lodge Objections
Cherwell, Oxfordshire and Bicester Town Council all objected by the 17 September deadline. What each letter says, and the 21 days Cherwell now wants.
Bicester
Bicester Asylum Plan: Cherwell Officers Now Urge Refusal
Cherwell's officers have moved from a likely objection to asking the government to refuse the 1,256-place plan. Councillors vote at 4pm on 16 September.
Bicester
Bicester Asylum Site: Cherwell Likely to Object on 16 Sept
Officers say the council is likely to object or hold. Councillors debate the 1,256-bed plan at 4pm on 16 September, and there is no public speaking on it.
Bicester
Bicester Asylum Plan: 11 Days to Comment from 7 Sept
Comments on the Home Office plan for 1,256 asylum seekers at MOD Bicester run 7 to 17 September. Its own papers say the ten-year use is designed to last longer.
Banbury
Cherwell Council Q1: 38.7% of Planning Bids on Time
Just 38.7% of smaller planning applications were decided on time against a 70% target, the Q1 report to scrutiny on 8 September shows. Affordable homes doubled.
Banbury
Cherwell Local Plan clears 80% test by one point
The inspector ruled the plan's 911 homes a year meets 81% of the 1,118 threshold, one point clear. The 20,042-home plan now goes to hearings this autumn.
Bicester
Bicester Motion plans: 200 flats, comments close 18 Sept
Three outline bids landed this month: 200 apartments, a 3.1km circuit and 86,700sqm of floorspace. The NHS says Bicester's GP surgery is already over capacity.
Banbury
Cherwell holds £19.7m of Section 106 developer money
The council says it put £703,884 of developer money into community projects. Its own statutory return shows £19,729,405 was still held at 31 March 2025, £4.9m of it for upkeep.