Bicester is facing the biggest test yet of its ‘Garden Town’ name: the developers of a site just north of Gavray Drive are challenging Cherwell District Council in a housing appeal.

In the council’s adopted Local Plan, the site is called 'Bicester 13': the council aims for 300 houses in total but in recognition of the great wildlife value of parts of this site, their policy also requires that the River Ray Conservation Target Area (CTA) and Gavray Meadows Local Wildlife Site (LWS) are preserved and enhanced alongside the housing.

The council has also agreed to designate these nature areas as a ‘Local Green Space’ in the forthcoming Local Plan Part 2.

The developers’ current intentions are to build on only part of the site, delivering just 180 homes, and say this relieves them from the requirement to protect and enhance the LWS. They say a park for residents’ use, a flood compensation area and balancing ponds will enhance the CTA.

No one knows when or if they intend to deliver the remaining 120 houses and the enhancements to the LWS.

The council refused them permission and the inquiry is to hear the developers appeal against that decision.

More realistic housing densities and affordable housing could provide one solution to relieving pressure on the wildlife areas.

Bicester residents know and love Gavray Meadows which provide relief from the increasing traffic noise and air pollution as well as the many building sites that create mud and dust on the roads. They know that without protection and management, this new development will lead to further neglect and damage to the wildlife areas.

For example, the developer’s environmental statement says that a crushed stone blanket will be laid to raise the land out of the flood plain before the houses can be built. This requires importing, by lorry, 22,700 cubic metres of stone over a seven month period along Gavray Drive. Imagine the noise and mess that will cause.

Local nature experts have recorded a wonderful range of plants and animals in Gavray Meadows: many are very rare or threatened with extinction in Oxfordshire. Indeed, the last sighting in Oxfordshire of the marsh fritillary butterfly was in Gavray Meadows.

Flood plain meadows require management by having the hay cut followed by grazing with sheep or cows. This allows the delicate meadow flowers to flourish and not get swamped by vigorous grasses. Proper management of Gavray Meadows hasn’t happened for about 20 years so the lack of a management plan in the current building proposal doesn’t meet with Council’s policy for Bicester 13 and was one reason for refusal.

The public inquiry is being held from 10am on Thursday this week and Monday to Wednesday next week at Cherwell District Council’s offices at Bodicote House near Banbury.

If you care about Gavray Meadows then please attend and let the inspector know your views.