We are now approaching 18 months since Nethercote residents learned that developers had submitted speculative proposals to turn the rural hamlet of Nethercote and the rural area of Huscote Farm into large industrial warehouse estates as part of the Local Plan Review 2040 for Cherwell District Council. Local residents have been overwhelmed by the support to preserve the area, received by those living in Banbury, surrounding villages, and even further afield, all of whom would be in some way affected should the proposals be allowed. We are often asked what is happening at the moment and whether the threat is still there or if the area is yet protected. Sadly, the cogs of these things turn painfully slowly, so your support is still needed to preserve this beautiful area for the future!  Please do keep sharing the petition which has now passed 2100 signatures!

If you feel strongly about the impact these proposals will have on aspects such as traffic, the destruction of our local heritage, the loss of the biodiversity in the area then you should contact your own local councillors and MP to make them aware of your thoughts on these issues.

There have been several planning matters running in conjunction along with various planning applications being received, escalated or returned which has created a lot of confusion, so for all of the wonderful supporters of this area, we wanted to give a summary on what is happening in each area and how your help is needed

Nethercote

We are still awaiting Cherwell District Council to progress to the next stage of the Local Plan Review

We are still awaiting Cherwell District Council to reinstate their conservation area review programme which has been on hold since before the Covid-19 pandemic

Please continue to share the petition!

Huscote Farm

This area also is awaiting the next stage of the Local Plan Review

Despite the area not being earmarked for development and specifically rejected from the current Local Plan, a planning application was submitted for 10 large warehouses across the site in May 2022, this application is now to be determined at Public Inquiry in April and Cherwell District Council have put forward 15 grounds for refusal

Members of the public are able to attend the Public Inquiry, which is due to open on 11th April 2023 so please save the date!

A further, duplicate application was submitted for this area, which was returned to the applicant by Cherwell District Council and will no longer be proceeding

Frontier Park/Kalabergo Close

The small section between the M40 and A361, is the only land East of M40 that is currently earmarked for any kind of development in the currently adopted Local Plan.  

Two warehouses have already been consented and built in this area, although they have since remained empty, despite being advertised for over 2 years now.  

Outline planning permission is in place until July 2023 for the remaining earmarked land which lies immediately to your left as you exit J11 onto A361

The previous application for a hotel, office complex, service station and more was withdrawn last month and a new application has been made to Cherwell District Council for a third warehouse

Full details of this application can be reviewed and comments left on Cherwell District Council portal until 30th March 2023 https://planningregister.cherwell.gov.uk/Planning/Display/23/00501/REM