Low carbon heat plans for 150 homes approved

The plans include a central energy centre on land off Somerton Road in Upper Heyford

Plans to heat more than 150 homes using low carbon energy have been approved.

Upper Heyford Parish Council applied to build a central energy centre, on land off Somerton Road in the village near Bicester, Oxfordshire, which is currently used for agriculture.

Under the proposal, 134 bore holes would be drilled to accommodate pipework and approximately 21,699 ft (6,614m) of trench work would connect the pipes to the energy centre.

Cherwell District Council unanimously approved the scheme during a planning meeting on Thursday.

In addition to heating 153 homes, the centre would also provide low carbon heat to the Barley Mow Public House, Upper Heyford Reading rooms and Upper Heyford Village Hall.

Oxfordshire County Council objected to the application, requesting further information about access to the site.

It also said the application failed to show the correct route of Upper Heyford bridleway.

But planning officers recommended the scheme for approval, stating it would reduce the homes' reliance on extracting energy from the grid, "which in turn is generated by higher carbon generating methods".

The plan also fits with "the wider objectives of the Cherwell Climate Change Emergency", they added.

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and wants to create a zero carbon district by 2030.

Council leader David Hingley said it was "an environmentally sound, sustainable proposal".

"It appears to have some level of local support and it's the sort of thing that should be supported," he added.