Victory for wildlife as ‘Eco-town’ is abandoned

Woodsides Meadow, part of the Weston Otmmor meadow complex. Credit BBOWT/Gavin Hageman

The decision follows a hugely successful campaign by BBOWT and local campaigners to save the meadows; many thousands of BBOWT members and others pledged their support and expressed their concern about the proposals to the government. This really is a victory for common sense and local wildlife.

Large complex of traditional hay meadows
Woodsides Meadow Nature Reserve is part of a larger complex of traditional hay meadows which form Wendlebury Mead and Mansmoor Closes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The meadows have a huge variety of wildflowers, and the hedgerows are home to the brown hairstreak butterfly. The proposed eco-town site, directly adjacent to the meadows, threatened the survival of this fragile habitat which is dependant on the maintenance of water levels and low human disturbance.

4 eco-towns to go ahead
The Planning Policy Statement has listed the first four Eco-towns to be developed at Whitehill-Bordon, Rackheath, St Austell (China Clay Community) and North-West Bicester

In a letter to Cherwell District Council this May, Henry Cleary (deputy director for housing and growth at CLG) clearly stated: "I can also confirm that in the case of Cherwell, it is clear that the Weston Otmoor and North West Bicester locations are alternatives - if one was selected the other would not."

BBOWT is therefore reassured that Woodsides Meadow Nature Reserve and the surrounding hay meadows are safe from the threat of an inappropriate ‘eco'-town development. There are no SSSIs or other designated wildlife sites at the North West Bicester site, but BBOWT have requested that detailed up-to-date ecological surveys are undertaken here to ensure that any important species that may use the area are identified and protected.

Matthew Jackson, Head of Planning, Policy and Wider Countryside at BBOWT, says: "We are not against all housing developments, or the principle of eco-towns; but we believe that ‘eco'-towns should be examples of highly sustainable, wildlife-friendly development. We will be working closely with Cherwell District Council to make sure that any eco-town development at North West Bicester is worthy of the ‘eco' label by ensuring that it is beneficial to local wildlife."