Gas-free properties approved in first phase of 4,200-home Oxfordshire development

Persimmon Homes subsidiary Charles Church has received permission from an Oxfordshire Council to deliver 151 no-gas properties as part of a large development project.

The plans approved by Vale of White Horse District Council encompass the next phase of the Valley Park site in Didcot, which is expected to deliver 4,254 new homes overall. Valley Park – a joint venture between Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey- will be built on a 178-hectare plot of land that is mostly agricultural in use and lies about 3km from the centre of Didcot. 

The gas-free units will be equipped with air source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and solar panels, as well as cycle storage.

Trees will be retained and planted on the estate, set to face the Common Park, where a variety of sports facilities will be introduced. 

Proposals for the zero-carbon units were submitted in April, confirming that 49 of the one-bed flats and two- and three-bedroom houses would be transferred to a local housing association partner. 

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As part of the scheme, a £50m investment will support new community facilities such as two new primary schools, a special education school and a healthcare centre. 

Persimmon and consortium partners will also gift land for the new medical centre to the local integrated care board and contribute £2.84m towards constructing the facility. 

Last month, Taylor Wimpey unveiled show homes at the site’s Primrose Gardens plot, featuring a 246-residence neighbourhood offering one- and two-bedroom flats as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom houses.

The scheme’s first phase including 172 homes also by Persimmon was approved in September 2022.