The Property Magazine New Homes Winter 2018-19

GRAVEN HILL
Here’s what you need to know
It’s time to think outside the bricks and mortar box. The Graven Hill vision is one
without limitation; it provides an exciting opportunity for people who dream of building
or buying a home that is out of the ordinary. Graven Hill is a new kind of housing
development, specifically aimed at custom and self-builders, offering opportunities for
up to 1,900 bespoke homes.
BICESTER – WHERE
TOWN MEETS COUNTRY
Bicester’s links to the rest of the UK were forged
in 1752, when coaches began running to London,
and by 1795, the ‘Old Banbury’ coach shuttled
between the two locations six days a week. Today,
Bicester sees on average 39 trains make the journey
to and from the capital on an average weekday.
The central location of the town allows residents
to experience the best of both worlds, uniting
country living with urban connections. As the crow
flies, Bicester is halfway between the UK’s largest
cities, London and Birmingham; and convenient
motorway links make it one of the top commuter
hotspots, whilst still allowing residents a taste of
country living.
Graven Hill is located at the southern edge of
Bicester, just 13 miles north-east of Oxford.
Despite 12,000 people a year undertaking selfbuild
projects, it is a well-known fact that finding
planning-approved land in the Home Counties can
be extremely difficult. Covering over 188 hectares
of ex- Ministry of Defence land, Graven Hill ticks all
the boxes with its mix of self-build and custom build
plots, as well as apartments and affordable housing.
Aside from its sheer size, the site boasts an
abundance of wildlife conservation areas, wetland
habitats and rich woodland. Upon setting foot onto
the site, it is obvious that protecting the landscape is
a priority at Graven Hill. Tree protection zones have
been established and a fence around the boundary
of the site keeps protected great crested newts
out of the construction area, stopping them being
harmed during any works.
Referring to Graven Hill as simply a development
doesn’t do it justice – it falls short of encapsulating
the spirit at the heart of the community. There is
an undercurrent of excitement amongst those who
have already secured their plots and relationships
between groups and individuals are already being
forged within the site.
Aside from the number of good schools in the
Bicester area, a generous site has been reserved at
the heart of Graven Hill for a primary school and
playing fields. Additional local amenities such as a
pub, community centre, retail space, green parks,
cycle paths, play areas, and allotments have all been
factored into the mix.
Bicester’s location is also perfect for those looking
for easy access to Oxford University, with the city
only a short drive away.
As the property market continues to evolve, buying
houses off the shelf is becoming an outdated
concept with more people looking to purchase
products with customisable options. Developments
such as Graven Hill are working on transforming
the home from being something fit-for-purpose, to
something truly personal. The option of a custom
build new home at Graven Hill provides buyers with
the flexibility to create a space that is tailored to
their individual lifestyle and preferences, without the
need to take on a self-build project.
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