Update about the College's estates

The College’s land to the south of the former US Air Force Base at Upper Heyford has been promoted for many years as an area which is suitable for housing. The College has worked with the Dorchester Group for some 15 years in this respect. The College has had a long-standing policy – along with many other Oxford Colleges – of selling land for development in pursuit of its charitable objectives in terms of the College increasing the value of its permanent endowment, the annual yield from which is used to fulfil its charitable purposes. The College’s land which would be part of the proposed Upper Heyford development currently being proposed by the Dorchester Group amounts to about 15% of the total.

In view of three letters received by residents in the Upper Heyford area, the College recently reviewed that policy at a Governing Body meeting, with legal advice, and agreed that the policy generally, and the proposal for Upper Heyford specifically, represented the necessary discharge of the fiduciary duties of its Trustees.  

The College recognises that concerns exist within the neighbouring area particularly in relation to the protection of heritage landscapes and the impact on transport. To this end, it has passed these concerns on to Dorchester Group, as the developer and the planning applicant, with the expectation that they will be considered. It also seeks proper evidential analysis on some of the concerns made. In this respect it hopes that the developer’s request for a meeting to discuss issues relating to the Rousham Estate can be arranged, as has been requested, to assist the process. It notes that all these are matters which the Planning Authority will form a view on as part of the planning process, and has every confidence that due process will be followed.  

It further notes that, having received the responses to the recent consultation exercise, a revised planning application by the Developer is likely to be submitted in March/April 2026, which will allow residents the opportunity to make further submissions in relation to the revised plans. It also notes in advance of that, the New Towns Task Force will be conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment on the 12 potential sites for new towns. They are expected to publish their findings in spring 2026, which will give local residents further opportunity to express their views on development issues within the area.  The College is a responsible landowner, and will work within its powers to ensure that any impact of the development is mitigated especially in relation to the heritage landscape and biodiversity net gain, and in due course, once there is a revised application, will present its own proposals for doing this.  

This is part of its agreed policy to develop an environmental enhancement policy across its estates in areas ranging from landscape and habitat enhancement to themes from the Government’s recent Environmental Improvement Plan and including academic research in these areas.