18-home brownfield redevelopment at Shaws Farm, Blackthorn, Bicester
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Cherwell Planning Committee on 4 Dec 2025.
What was proposed
The proposal would demolish the former commercial buildings and build 18 homes with access, parking, open space, landscaping, drainage and infrastructure.
“The historic commercial and research use raises the potential for ground contamination. Surface water management and the delivery of a sustainable drainage strategy are also relevant, notwithstanding that the site lies within Flood Zone 1. Ecological considerations arise from the existing buildings, boundary vegetation and the wider River Ray corridor. The redevelopment must avoid harm to habitats and species and secure biodiversity net gain. 2.5.”
“The scheme has been amended during the course of the application, increasing the number of units from 10 to 18 and revising the disposition of buildings, parking and open space. The dwellings would be arranged around a shared‑surface internal street network with a central area of public open space.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The one-hectare brownfield site lies behind Station Road on Blackthorn’s edge, with existing homes, public rights of way, trees and farmland nearby.
“The application site lies on the south-eastern edge of Blackthorn, a village to the south-east of Bicester. The land extends to about 1 hectare and is located behind existing frontage development on Station Road. The site is occupied by the former Envigo research facility. It contains a series of large industrial and commercial buildings, areas of open storage, extensive hardstanding and a surfaced car park of around 60 spaces.”
“To the south, south-east and south-west the boundary is formed by mature hedgerows and trees beyond which the land falls away towards open farmland. The immediate surrounding area is predominantly residential in character, with a mix of dwelling types and ages within a semi-rural landscape. CONSTRAINTS 2.1.”
Officer report
Planning history and changes
There was no directly relevant planning history, while earlier pre-application discussions considered residential redevelopment of about 10 to 12 homes.
“There is no planning history directly relevant to the proposal. PRE-APPLICATION DISCUSSIONS”
“The following pre-application discussions have taken place with regard to this proposal: 16/00298/PREAPP 12.10.2016 – Redevelopment of site for residential use This is a finely balance case. After due consideration of the comments received from my Policy colleagues (and we apologise for the excessive delay in our deliberations) it is considered that a limited amount of residential development could be supported on this site – but potentially no more than 10-12 units.”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee granted permission in line with the officer recommendation, subject to the listed conditions and completion of a section 106 agreement.
“That, in line with the officer’s recommendation, permission be granted for application 24/01237/F subject to:”
Minutes
Sources
- Cherwell Planning Committee minutes, 4 December 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Cherwell's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
Committee decisions and nationwide planning applications, in one API
The Plota API returns planning applications from every council we cover, each with its decision, whether a committee or officers decided it, and the committee date. Build it into your own tools.
See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Cherwell Planning Committee
- Council
- Cherwell
- Date
- Thursday 4 December 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Cherwell committee decisions →
This committee's year
6 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.