Care home plan for self-build development approved

Graven Hill is the UK's biggest self-build community

Plans to build a large care home in the UK's biggest self-build community have been approved by a local authority.

Cherwell District Council unanimously agreed a 66-bedroom care home on the Graven Hill development in Bicester.

The area was bought by the council in 2016 and is made up of custom-builds, new builds, affordable housing and apartments.

The site, which is roughly one-third built, is developed by Graven Hill Village Development Company - which opposed the care home plans.

Samuel Finlay, speaking on behalf of the applicant LNT Care Developments, told the council planning committee the care home "will offer an enhanced choice of care, while helping meet an ever-growing demand for residential care beds in the local area".

He added it would create about 60 jobs, once the building was full.

The home would provide both general residential care and dementia care for elderly residents, and would include gardens, a shop and a cinema.

Some at the council meeting raised concerns over the lack of cycling routes from the development to the town centre.

Claire Brenner, who spoke on behalf of the Bicester Bike Users Group and Graven Hill Residents Association, called for the plans to be deferred and amended to include a cycle path which would connect Graven Hill to Bicester.

She said: "If this was included it would be possible to travel from Garth Park in the centre of town, all the way into Graven Hill woods, entirely off road on cycle paths.

"It would be an enormous missed opportunity for the whole of Bicester if we don't have this."

Council planning officer Andrew Thompson responded to Ms Brenner's concerns, saying that a cycle route could be included in future plans for Graven Hill.

A total of 2,100 homes are planned for Graven Hill, as well as employment sites, services and other infrastructure.