First, thank you. Your support in signing the petition urging Oxford City Council to pursue a compulsory purchase of the Jericho Wharf site has made a real difference. The campaign has taken a major step forward.

Three months ago, the City Council formally committed to launching a compulsory purchase order (CPO). This was a breakthrough. The Council reached the same conclusion the community reached long ago: Cheer Team, the landowner, cannot be relied upon to deliver the development this crucial site needs.

We are now in a far stronger position. The Trust and the City Council are working together on a twin‑track strategy:

Track 1: Negotiated purchase. We have been working with potential developers who would buy the site and deliver a scheme that meets both their commercial goals and the needs and aspirations of Jericho and the wider city.

Track 2: Full steam ahead on the CPO. This ensures Cheer Team understands the reality: if they want a voluntary sale  they must come to the table quickly and agree a realistic price. Otherwise, they risk being forced to hand it over for the current estimated value of around £1 million.

This combined approach was presented earlier this week to the AGM of the  Jericho Community Association, where JWT trustee David Edwards outlined the current position and the next steps. You can view his slide presentation on the Jericho Wharf website.

And there’s more happening this week. The Jericho Singers Summer Concert is raising funds for the Save Jericho Wharf campaign. Please buy your tickets here  — and come along to hear inspiring music, support the cause, and chat with JWT trustees about the latest developments and your ideas for what comes next.