More homes set for Graven Hill development near Bicester
Another 64 homes could be built at the UK's biggest self-build development.The homes would be built at Graven Hill, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, where building first started in 2016.Many of the homes on the site are custom-builds and the development has been featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs.Currently about 750 homes at Graven Hill have planning permission or have been built, as with a primary school, local centre and play areas.
But the estate's residents' association said it worried that it was straying from its original vision last year.Cherwell District Council bought the land from the Ministry of Defence in 2014.The Graven Hill Village Development Company's (GHVDC) planning application, consisting of the 64 homes, was published on the council's website on Tuesday.The new homes would be built on the land south of Anniversary Avenue East between Milne Street and Read Place.Eventually, there will be about 2,000 homes at Graven Hill.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Paul Hollywood: I put on Coldplay and make some bread
The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, known for his icy stares and no-nonsense feedback of contestants' masterpieces, says he's his own biggest critic too. 'I'll always be critical, because nothing's ever really perfect, even the stuff I make – nothing is perfect,' says the 59-year-old. Advertisement Merseyside-born Hollywood, who is releasing his latest cookbook, Celebrate, has been the only mainstay on the popular baking show since its conception on the BBC in 2010, before it moved to Channel 4 seven years later. Running the family bakery at 20, his on-screen persona certainly hasn't been created for TV. 'I've always been like that [at the] bakery, with the lads I was working with. My dad [John] was like that with me – so I'm just passing the buck. 'I am very critical, but I think it's healthy. It's not a destructive criticism. It's constructive because you get better and better.' (Haarala Hamilton/PA) Sometimes his more balanced comments don't make the edit on the programme, he says. 'I'll say, 'That's terrible' and then they'll go, 'That's the cut!'' Advertisement His own family, apparently, don't even like baking for him – 'Yeah I didn't know to what depth they worry about it!' he laughs. 'I was at a party a couple of years ago and someone made something and wanted me to tell them what my thoughts were. I thought it was pretty good but they pushed me to give a proper Bake Off response, so I did and they were a little bit upset.' Of course, the other thing he's become strangely famous for is his handshakes – given out to contestants he deems to have done a great bake in the Bake Off tent. People come up to him on the street 'all the time' asking for a Hollywood handshake. 'It's charming,' he insists, 'but I normally say, 'Where's my cake?'. 'It's been 13-odd years and anywhere in the world people will offer me a handshake. It's quite strange.' Advertisement Home baking has had somewhat of a renaissance through the TV show that solidified Hollywood's stature as a household name, and the rise in popularity of making sourdough and banana bread during the pandemic. But baking, he says, is one of the oldest trades, along with fishing. 'It's one of the oldest things mentioned in the Bible. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Hollywood (@ 'It's one of the rare things in the world that you take a lot of raw ingredients, and [transform them] completely differently by putting into an oven. 'It's a very prehistoric thing to do. Bread making goes back many, many years, and I think with modern technology, machines and ovens, we can produce proper baking that rivals all the professional bakeries – and you can do all that in your safety of your own kitchen.' Hollywood bakes, usually, every other day. 'I put a bit of Coldplay on and then make a bit of bread. When it's fully risen you knock it back and gently shake it. I find that extremely relaxing. Advertisement 'I can picture how that breads going to come out the oven before it's even gone in the oven. You just know it's going to be a good loaf. It comes from years of making doughs and sponges and batters. I enjoy that side of things. Quite therapeutic.' Plus, amidst the cost-of-living crisis, Hollywood says savings can be made by baking more at home – particularly for a celebration or party. 'Often we just buy something cheap and I think it's important that people bake, because, A, they realise what does into their bakes and, B, it's actually cheaper overall to bake yourself. 'When you buy ingredients to make something, you're probably going to be able to make more than own. You might even be able to do two or three.' (Haarala Hamilton/PA) Hollywood's tips for beginner bakers 1. Don't be scared 'If you see something that you really want to make in the book and you want to have a go. It's very 'stagey'… when you break down the stages it's actually very simple. You take things nice and slow and at the end you'll go, 'My God, look what I've just made – it's amazing!' Advertisement 2. Start with something easy 'I'd say the easiest bake is a Victoria sandwich. Either make two or one and split it. Traditionally, it's just raspberry jam and a dusting of icing sugar. Because I'm from the North, I like to add cream to it as well. A whisked sponge is slightly different, because you're whisking up a sponge, which makes it very light. When you put a spoon into it, with cream [which is] silky smooth and soft, It's just delicious with a cup of tea.' 3. Make sure you're prepared Baking, especially for a celebratory event, might feel a bit daunting but Hollywood says: 'It's about preparation. It's like anything. When we're working in a professional kitchen, they call it 'mise en place' – it's about getting everything in place so when you start to make something, everything's there at hand.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Hollywood (@ 4. Get a table mixer They can be quite expensive but, 'Some models start from £200-£300, but you're going to use it to death. It's going to last you a long time, probably the rest of your life if it's looked after. I think a good table mixer takes the worry out of making bread because people don't want to knead the bread.' Some recipes in his book are 'no knead' though. 'Basically just stir it together, leave nature to do most of the work, and then you just fold it. But a table mixer is essential.' 5. Keep a clean oven A rookie mistake most people make is not cleaning their ovens, he says. 'I'm quite fanatical about cleaning my oven. The glass especially, so I can peer in without opening the door. Most people, I can probably guarantee you can't see anything that's on there. 'If you open the oven door, you're losing temperature straight away – especially with breads and cakes. Mid-rise on a cake, if you open the door and introduce cold heat, it will drop and create a little dip in the middle and then sort of concertina up.' (Bloomsbury Publishing/PA) Celebrate by Paul Hollywood is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing. Photography by Haarala Hamilton. Available June 5th
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Event will promote military skills to Lincolnshire employers
An event demonstrating the value of military skills in the workplace is to be held as part of Armed Forces Business will offer presentations and talks to companies and organisations from across Lincolnshire, encouraging them to hire event will be held at the Officer's Mess at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham on 25 Ley, South Kesteven District Council's armed forces champion, said it would be a "golden opportunity" to combine support for businesses and ex-military personnel across the county. The event is being run by the district council, the Ministry of Defence and the Business Unfinished council, which holds a gold award under the MoD's defence employer recognition scheme, employs former military personnel as bin collectors and in grounds maintenance. 'A good work ethic' At the event, veterans who run their own businesses will be sharing their journeys from deployment to members of the military will be at the event, giving talks about how their skills can benefit organisations when they end their attending will hear how hiring military reservists can unlock training benefits worth up to £10,000 for Greater Lincolnshire Defence and Security Cluster (GLRDSC) will explain how businesses can access defence budgets so they can secure defence Free served in the Army for 30 years before joining the University of Lincoln, where he is now deputy vice chancellor (regional engagement) and chair of the Free, who finished his service at the rank of major general, described members of the forces as "technical, skilled people" with a "good work ethic".He added that they were "quite a rich source of well-qualified people to take into businesses". Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
RAF chief set to be new head of armed forces
The head of the RAF is set to be appointed as the new chief of the British armed forces, according to reports. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton is thought to be in line to be the next Chief of Defence Staff. The position is currently held by Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who has been in the role since 2021. According to his biography on the Government website, Sir Richard joined the RAF in 1989 as a university cadet, and served as deputy chief of the defence staff from 2019 to 2022. The appointment comes as the Government has pledged to increase defence spending in the UK to 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament, a timetable which could stretch to 2034. The Ministry of Defence said: 'This is speculation. The appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.'
