58 homes approved for farm field on Broughton Road
19/03/2026
Councillors felt the site was, on balance, sustainable
A planning application to build up to 58 homes on a farm field along the Broughton Road, next to Balmoral Avenue has been approved. The site, opposite the Salt Way Farm Shop, is south of a development which is already being constructed behind the Bretch Hill water tower.
The application is beyond the current Banbury boundary but planning officers recommended it be approved as Cherwell District Council cannot currently demonstrate the legal requirement to have a five-year supply of new homes being built.
The applicant proposed a mix of two, three, and four-plus bedroom properties, 30 percent of which would be classed as affordable.
In return for granting planning permission Cherwell District Council is requesting over £891,000 of Section 106 funding – cash which the developer must pay the council towards a number of projects. Oxfordshire County Council have requested a further £772,000 for areas such as education, public transport and waste and recycling centres.
Both Banbury Town Council and the local elected councillors objected to the application, but no objections were submitted by either Oxfordshire County Council’s Highways or Education teams.
Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill opened up the debate, explaining that whilst she had concerns, on balance there was a reason to accept the application.
She said: “Despite the questions [I asked] which were indicative of concerns that I have, overall I do think that the proposed development … is a sustainable one.
“I think if we think about what kind of services and amenities a development of this size would be able to comfortably access within the edge of Banbury, although it may not be ideal, compared to the edge of Hook Norton or another village, it’s clearly much more sustainable than in many other sites.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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