Residents of the historic village of Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, forever linked to Britain's war dead, fear it will be "swallowed up" by a massive expansion of 2,700 new homes. The village, home to RAF Brize Norton, has received the remains of fallen personnel for decades. With a population that stood at just 938 fifteen years ago, it has now grown to 2,590, and developers are snapping up surrounding green fields for a proposed 'new town' that could more than treble that number.
Community fears loss of identity
Kate Grant, 66, who has lived in Brize Norton since the age of three, expressed horror at the proposals. "This is home, and the idea of being surrounded by new houses is appalling to me. My biggest worry is the infrastructure. People who moved into new houses were promised amenities that never materialised. We won't be a village anymore," she said. Grant noted that businesses have already closed, and the small country roads cannot cope with construction traffic and increased population.
Residents also highlight pressure on healthcare. Grant added: "They built 700 houses here with no new healthcare facilities, no dentists, no health centre. The doctors can't cope." The village's elderly population is particularly vulnerable.
Developer proposals
Developer KSW is examining 280 hectares of farmland between Brize Norton and the A40 for a project called New Astrop. Preliminary plans include a 120-bedroom care home, a country park, 12 hectares of employment land, and a relief road. A separate application for 2,500 homes on Burford Road is also in progress, alongside the approved 350-home Kilkenny Farm and 265-home military housing schemes.
Paul Hughes of Carterton accused developers of "fast forwarding" projects, saying: "Brize Norton will effectively disappear as a standalone historic village. If that happens, it will be a disgrace." Rob Phair, an aircraft engineer, said the village has become "a housing estate, not a community anymore." He cited flooding and sewage issues after the construction of the nearby Brize Meadows development, where promised schools and medical facilities never appeared.
Infrastructure and wildlife concerns
Alice Green, 83, noted that heavy rain prevents residents from using appliances due to overwhelmed drainage. "They must do infrastructure first before building more houses," she said. Jodie Hughes, 37, worried about her children's school being relocated and expanded, and about wildlife losing habitat to development. "All the fields have been built up. We'll just see houses and houses," she said.
The repatriation ceremonies for fallen soldiers, once held at Brize Norton, were moved to RAF Lyneham in 2007 and returned in 2011. West Oxfordshire District Council is expected to consult agencies on the planning application. Public comments can be made by searching reference 26/01289/SCOPE on the council's website.
