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Headington News: Saturday 25 July, 2026

Restructuring of council

Oxfordshire and West Berkshire's seven existing councils will be replaced by three unitary councils on 1 April 2028, and Headington will be in the Greater Oxford Council, which covers the city and its immediate surroundings.

This means that The Ridings, Shotover Hill, and the land north of Bayswater Brook (including Wick Farm) will now come under Greater Oxford instead of South Oxfordshire District Council, as well as villages near Headington such as Beckley, Elsfield, Forest Hill, Holton, Horspath, Stanton St John, Waterperry, and Wheatley.

Elections in May 2027

Elections for the new unitaries will take place in May 2027, after which shadow authorities will be created to plan the new councils. They will not deliver services, but will focus on preparing for the future councils.  The current councils will continue in tandem with them until May 2028.

Traffic filters: Introduction postponed

The county council introduced a temporary congestion charge in October 2025 on four of the six roads that were going to get traffic filters as an interim measure until the Botley Road reopened and the filters could be introduced. The filters were due to come into operation on 14 September 2026 as Kier were very confident on completing the roadworks by the end of August, but the discovery of gas leaks has postponed the reopening of the road and no new date has been set for the introduction of the filters

When the traffic filters are introduced, instead of a £5 charge, a £70 fine will be levied if people without a pass drive a car through any of the six camera points.

The filters in and near Headington will be:

  • Marston Ferry Road (Mon–Sat, 7am–9am and 3pm–6pm)
  • Hollow Way (Mon–Sat, 7am–9am and 3pm–6pm)
  • St Clements (all seven days, 7am–7pm).

These filters are part of the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan and on 29 November 2022 following consultation the county council's cabinet agreed to trial six traffic filters:

Prize-winning garden donated to JR

Parkinson's UK is donating its Chelsea Flower Show garden with over £300,000 in plantings and features (plus £50,000) to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The garden, designed by Arit Anderson, won the People's Choice Award:

The planning application has been submitted to create this new garden in the grounds of the Manor House:

Ruskin Fields development

‪The proposal for up to 120 homes on the Ruskin Fields in Old Headington, with vehicular access from Foxwell Drive, is moving forward, with a planning application expected this year (2026). You can find out more about it and complete the consultation here:

The University of West London (UWL) acquired Ruskin College in Dunstan Road in July 2021.

Initially on 16 October 2024 Oxford City Council’s Cabinet approved an option agreement for a right of way for the college over council-owned land at Foxwell Drive in Northway if it received planning permission for the Ruskin Fields. Originally this would have meant the relocation of Northway's Tiny Forest that the city council planted on the site in 2021 with a grant from the Ovo Foundation, but a new route has been found.

Hindu Temple opens in Headington

Oxford's first Hindu temple was formally opened on 21 June 2026 in the former sports pavilion in Marsh Lane, Headington OX3 0NQ

Proposed flats at 255 & 257 London Road

A planning application from Dunne Property Developments was validated in July 2026 for 255 & 257 London Road (formerly Savvy and the previous premises of Headington Barbers) on the eastern corner of Barton Road: “Demolition of the existing semi-detached building and outbuildings. Erection of a part three-storey apartment block to create 2 x one-bed, 5 x two-bed and 1 x three-bed flats (Use Class C4). Ground floor to include 2no. commercial units (Use Class E). Provision of private amenity space, 6no. car parking bays, bin and cycle stores and associated landscaping”:

An earlier planning application by Dunne Property Developments was approved in October 2025 but the developers decided that it was not viable to go ahead with this one. It was for “Demolition of the existing semi-detached building and outbuildings. Erection of a part three-storey apartment block with basement to create 5 x 4 bed, 2 x 3 bed HMO flats (Use Class C4). Provision of private amenity space, 1no. short-stay car parking bay, bin and cycle stores and associated landscaping”.

An earlier application for the same site was refused by Oxford City Planning Committee on 25 February 2025:

Proposed flats at 23A London Road

PK UK Management Ltd have submitted a planning application for: “Demolition of existing bungalow [behind Red Mullions guest house]. Erection of a three storey building containing 8 x 1 bed flats (Use Class C3). Provision of bin, bike stores and parking”,

Changes to Headington bus services
Former No 10

Stagecoach is now running a No. 10 clockwise express route from the JR to Cowley and a No. 9 clockwise express route back from Cowley to the JR. The No. 13 now serves Wood Farm:

No 100, 700, and H2 buses

The timetable for the Oxford Bus Company 100 and 700 buses has been revised, and the 100 service now serves the Churchill Hospital rather than Old Road. The Pulhams H2 service has been extended on weekdays

No 600 bus

This service is now run by the Oxford Bus Company and connects the Redbridge Park & Ride, Oxford Science Park, Headington Hospitals, and Thornhill Park & Ride:

City Council election results, 7 May 2026

No changes in Headington area except for Lye Valley Ward. The following were elected to May 2030, but their term will now end in May 2028 because of local government reorganization:

Barton & Sandhills: Mike Rowley (Labour)

Churchill: Susan Brown (Labour)

Headington: Christopher Smowton (LibDem)

Headington Hill & Northway: James Taylor (Labour)

Lye Valley: James Thorniley (Green) win from Labour

Marston: Kate Robinson (Green)

Quarry & Risinghurst: Chewe Munkonge (Labour)
Lord Mayor for 2026/7

All city council 2026 election results

Wikipedia: Oxford City Council election of 2026

(All current County Councillors were elected in 2025 for four years to May 2029, but their terms will also now cease in May 2027)

Headington Co‑op building to be replaced

Headington Co-op at 152 London Road closed down permanently on 3 January 2026 (with the post office that it hosted closing three days earlier). It will be demolished and replaced by laboratories and offices.

On 7 October 2025 Oxford City Planning Committee approved the most recent planning application for the Co-op site, and on 26 February 2026after 42 conditions were agreed formal approval was given to Cantay Estates for:
“Demolition of existing retail store (Use Class E). Erection of new building at 2 to 3 storeys (with basement) to provide Use Class E floorspace comprising use for research and development and offices. Service area, landscaping (including low walls to London Road and Stile Road), cycle parking, bin stores, and alterations to access off Stile Road”.

Background

On 1 December 2020 the former Midcounties Co­op (now part of OurCoop) informed its members that it had sold to developers the Headington Co­op site at 152 London Road (including its car park on the other side of Stile Road, making a total of 0.6 acres). They stated that the Headington store did not fit the long-term strategy of the Society, but that they hoped to operate a convenience store on the site following the redevelopment.

It was bought by Cantay Estates Ltd. Their earlier planning applications for a five-storey building with a retail shop and hotel upstairs and then a smaller version of the same with four storeys were refused, so the Co-op cannot open the store it had planned..

See separate page for the earlier proposals for the site
Major changes for Warneford site

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is planning a major £750m development called “Warneford Park” at the Warneford Hospital site:

  • Construction of a new mental health hospital
  • Construction of a new research facility
  • Construction of a new postgraduate medical college for the University of Oxford and association accommodation
  • Refurbishment and conversion of the current mental health hospital for use as part of the above college.

Two planning applications were approved (with conditions) at the Oxford City Planning Committee meeting on 21 April 2026. The decision on the major application was called in by twelve city councillors, and was approved again at the Planning Review Committee on 16 June 2026.

  • 25/01859/OUTFUL
    (i) Outline application (with all matters reserved save for "access"), for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of a graduate college for the University of Oxford comprising Student accommodation (Sui Generis), ancillary college buildings (Sui Generis), provision of landscaping, bin and cycle parking, car parking, public realm and open space.
    (ii) Full application for demolition of existing buildings and partial demolition of existing walls, erection of a hospital building (Use Class C2), a research building (Use Class E(g)(ii)), a hospital research link building (C2/E(g)(ii)), and erection of relocated SANE building (Use Class E(g)(i)and (ii)) and pavilion building. Provision of associated car parking, cycle parking, bin storage, access, landscaping, public realm works and associated infrastructure works. Refurbishment and repair of the Gate Lodge and use for residential accommodation associated with the College (Use Class Sui generis)
    Planning decision
  • 25/01834/LBC
    Interventions including alteration, demolition and repair of listed and curtilage listed structures to facilitate comprehensive development of the site. The works relate to the demolition of the former farmhouse and former stables; dismantling of former pavilion building and onsite reconstruction and relocation; removal of secondary attached and freestanding structures; alterations and repair of historic boundary walls; and repair and restoration of the Gate Lodge
    Planning decision

Construction will begin in late 2028 at the earliest, with the hospital and research building opening in 2031 and the graduate college in 2033.

BBC News: “New plans for 'world-class' mental health hospital”

“Warneford Park” website with full details

The first consultation closed on 30 September 2024. The second consultation took place with three drop-in exhibitions in early December 2024:

On 22 May 2023 the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust submitted a Scoping Opinion request to Oxford City Council. A Scoping Opinion request is NOT a planning application and only the planners were invited to respond. They decided on 2 October 2023 that it constituted EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Development and that an Environmental Statement would be required, particularly relating to the Lye Valley SSSI: see the twelve-page Decision under the Documents tab in the link below.

Full details of the proposed development are in the 142pp document entitled “Warneford Park: Information to Support a Scoping Opinion Request”, which is also under the Documents tab of the main planning application above and described as “Background Papers: Scoping report”.

This extract from the spring 2024 edition of the Highfield Residents' Association newsletter gives additional information: the project needs c.£200 million of capital to fund the hospital element of Warneford Park, and it needs to secure £300 million match funding.

In January 2025 the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust was granted planning permission relating to the south wing of the Warneford Hospital to create a proposed Mental Health Research Unit:

 

Warneford 200

A year-long programme of events led by Oxford Health Charity and partners, marking 200 years of mental health care at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford.

“Quarry Mews” in Quarry High Street

The hearing of “Quarry Mews Limited v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and another” was held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 24 July 2025, and both grounds of the developer's appeal were dismissed:

This appeal was made under section 289 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 against the Planning Inspectorate's dismissal of the developer's earlier appeal against Oxford City Council's enforcement notice requiring the demolition of these six houses next to the recreation ground in Quarry High Street.

Background

The planning application for this site was approved on 18 September 2006: “Demolition of existing workshop building and outbuildings. Retention of existing shop and one bedroom flat. Erection of 2-storey workshop building, with music room and office. Erection of 6 x 1 bedroom dwellings in a 3- storey terrace. Alterations to the existing access and formation of 9 car parking spaces (3 for the workshop and 6 for the dwellings)”.

The workshop behind Beecher Acoustics was built soon after, but the building of the six dwellings did not start until 2017.

Following the raising of concerns about the height of this mews block of six houses near the recreation ground and its closeness to the street, on 5 January 2022 Oxford City Council served an enforcement notice on the developers giving them six months to demolish the houses and another month to clear the site.

On 15 February 2022 the developers, “Quarry Mews Ltd” (Jonathan and Sarah Beecher of Beecher Acoustics at 1 Quarry High Street), lodged an appeal to the planning Inspectorate against that enforcement notice. That appeal started on 15 February 2022 but was not held at Oxford's Town Hall until September 2024. It was dismissed on 5 January 2025, but the planning inspector extended the compliance period to 11 months for the demolition of the six houses and 12 months for the removal of all the materials and rubble (although para 72 implies that full demolition could be avoided). This deadline has now expired, but it appears that another extension has been granted. .

LTNs in Headington

The trial of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Headington was due to go ahead in Spring 2022 but appears to have been indefinitely delayed:

Headington Liveable Streets

Residents from across Headington formed a group called Headington Liveable Streets in May 2020. Join their mailing list to find out what is going on.

Development near Sandhills

A consultation is now open until 1 July 2026 on the proposed Order to close the bridleway between Barton and Sandhills while building work (76 dwellings and a care home) takes place on the Bayswater Farm site:

Two separate planning applications for housing and a care home on the site of Bayswater Farm were refused by both Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC), and the developers Cilldara launched 2 x 4 appeals. Following the public inquiry in April, on 9 May 2025 the smaller of the two plans (for 76 dwellings and a care home) was allowed by the Planning Inspector, but the larger one was dismissed. The details of the appeal can be seen via the Appeal Decisions link on this page:

This land lies alongside the bridle path that runs from Barton through Sandhills to Forest Hill. Although this is SODC territory, the plans were also submitted to Oxford City Council because access to the development is from Delbush and Burdell Avenues in Sandhills.

(1) For 121 homes + care home: appeal by Cilldara DISMISSED

Both Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council refused the earlier outline planning application submitted for 121 homes and a care home on this site.

(2) For 76 dwellings + care home: Appeal by Cilldara ALLOWED

Later smaller application submitted by Carter Jonas on behalf of the Cilldara Group (Headington) Ltd for the land at Bayswater Farm adjacent to Sandhills for up to 76 dwellings and a care home:

Background

This land was allocated for development as part of STRAT13, the strategic development site in South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan 2035 that includes the much larger Christ Church development to the west and on the north side of the Bayswater Brook. .

In mid-February 2021 the Lone Star Group Ltd of Henley-in-Arden (an independent land promoter) announced here on LinkedIn that they were “delighted to announce the acquisition and promotion of land at Bayswater Farm, Oxford. The site will deliver c130 dwellings”. They later stated here that they had acquired seven hectares of “prime Oxford real estate at Bayswater Farm” for a private client, and the proposed number of dwellings had increased from 130 to 150. The Cilldara Group bought the land from the Lone Star Group in February 2021.

Planning Appeals in Headington in 2026
Headington appeals launched in 2026
  • 19 Stanway Road
    Quarry & Risinghurst ward
    Erection of a single-storey rear extension
    Refused application 26/00383/FUL
    Not yet listed on Planning Appeals website
  • 21 St Leonard's Road
    Application to certify that the proposed alterations to roof to form hip to gable, formation of 1no. rear dormer with juliet balcony, insertion of 3no. rooflights to front roofslope in association with a loft conversion and alterations to fenestration is lawful development.
    Refused application 26/00022/REFUSE
    Not yet listed on Planning Appeals website
  • 14A Benson Road
    Lye Valley ward
    Erection of a single-storey outbuilding at the rear of the garden to act as a home office. Provision of cycle and bin storage
    Refused application 25/02472/FUL
    Planning appeals website: Awaiting site visit (6005861)
Headington planning appeals allowed in 2026
  • 13A Sandfield Road
    Headington Ward
    Demolition of existing rear extension. Erection of a part single-, part two-storey rear extension. Formation of a front porch. Installation of insulation and render to external façade. Alterations to roof height to allow the formation of 2no. dormers and insertion of 2no. rooflights in association with a loft conversion. Alterations to fenestration
    Refused application 26/00263/FUL
    Allowed appeal: 6008847
  • 88 Bernwood Road, Barton
    Barton & Sandhills ward
    Application to certify that the proposed single-storey outbuilding to rear garden is lawful development
    Refused application: 24/03002/CPU
    Allowed appeal: APP/G3110/X/25/3364705
Headington planning appeals dismissed in 2026
  • 6 Marsh Lane
    Headington Hill & Northway ward
    Demolition of existing garage and workshop. Erection of single-storey rear extension. Insertion of 1 no. window to the side elevation. Subdivision of existing house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4) to a short term holiday let (Sui Generis) on the first floor and a 1 x 1 bed apartment (Use Class C3) on the ground floor. Erection of single-storey building for housekeeping and storage purposes for the short term holiday let and cycle storage for the apartment and housekeeper. Erection of boundary treatments, bicycle parking and alterations to landscaping. (Part retrospective)
    Refused application: 25/02841/FUL
    Dismissed appeal: 6004215
  • 35 Chestnut Avenue
    Headington Ward
    Erection of a single-storey rear extension
    Refused application 25/03410/FUL
    Dismissed appeal: 6006031
  • 34 Downside Road, Risinghurst
    Quarry & Risinghurst ward
    To certify that the proposed alterations to roof to form hip to gable, formation of 1no dormer to rear roofslope and insertion of 1no rooflight to front roofslope in association with loft conversion is lawful development
    Refused application: 24/01017/CPU
    Dismissed appeal: APP/G3110/X/24/3353585
        (Not to be confused with the earlier allowed appeal
         re planning application 23/00746/FUL at this address)
  • 128 Dene Road
    Lye Valley ward
    Change of use of dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4). Provision of bin and cycle stores
    Refused application: 25/01259/FUL
    Dismissed appeal: APP/G3110/W/25/3373344
Two new laboratories for Old Road campus

In 2013 outline planning permission (12/02072/OUT) was granted for five plots covering 48,000 square metres on the Old Road campus. Three of the buildings are up and running and two are being built.

The fifth and last full planning application for the Research Centre for Pandemic Sciences (bordering Old Road and the Triangle children's nursery) was approved by the Oxford City Planning Committee on 20 May 2025:

The Institute for Global Health (currently being built by Morgan Sindall Construction) is a £35m facility designed by Associated Architects on the northern boundary of the Old Road campus (with Old Road to the north and Mileway Gardens to the west). It will accommodate 400 staff and 330 researchers, and is expected to open in the summer of 2026.

The original outline plan included the loss of the Triangle Nursery, but an application has now been submitted for its permanent retention (25/01233/FUL).

Details of all five new buildings

Hospital developments underway
Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at the Churchill

On 25 February 2025 the Oxford City Planning Committee approved a major planning application for a new Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at the Churchill Hospital:
“Erection of a modular manufacturing building (Use Class E). Extension to service road. Installation of sprinkler with palisade fencing, electrical transformer, vehicle barriers, bollards and lampposts. Provision of car and cycle parking, loading area, fencing and landscaping”.

On 18 March 2024 the University of Oxford submitted 22 revised documents seeking to address the concerns of Natural England, the Friends of Lye Valley, and others, and fourteen revised drawings were added in August 2024, and many more in December 2024.

Seven new operating theatres for the JR

This major planning application by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was approved by the Oxford Planning Committee on 19 March 2024 and the decision issued on 16 August following a section 106 agreement. It is for “Erection of an extension to provide modular theatre building with link corridor, provision of two external plant buildings, associated infrastructure, landscaping and parking”:

Oxford City Planning Committee

The next meeting of the Oxford City Planning Committee will be held at 6pm on Tuesday 25 August 2026.

The agendas for future meetings of the Oxford City Planning Committee appear here about a week before the meeting. Change the year in the box at the top of the page to see lists of all earlier meetings with minutes.

(The former East and West Area Planning Committees were replaced by a single Oxford City Planning Committee in May 2021.The minutes for all the meetings of the old East Area Planning Committee can still be found here)

 

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Shop and businesses changes in 2026

(Earlier shop changes and closures in 2025 can be seen here)

Headington Post Office to reopen in Windmill Road

Headington Post Office will reopen at 12 Windmill Road on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 1pm. Leopard Press plans to continue operating at the front of the building, then there would be something like a café or community hub, with the Post Office would be at the back.

Hunsdon House closes, Deepwell Arts opens

Hunsdon House School closed permanently in July 2026 after over a hundred years in Osler Road, Headington, and the premises have been taken over by Deepwell Arts.

Broche Coffee open

Broche Coffee opened on 26 April 2026 in the former Oxford Framing Gallery premises at 67 London Road (on the corner of Osler Road). The shop has been extensively refurbished and has new decking outside.

Tumazo Pizza open

Tumazo Pizza opened at 71A London Road on 15 June 2026 but is still advertising for staff and delivery riders/drivers.

It has been granted planning permission for an internally illuminated fascia sign at this :

An earlier planning application to certify whether the proposed use of the premises (formerly a deserted office) as a pizza restaurant (with ventilation outlet to the front) was lawful development was withdrawn:

On 24 February 2025 Templeton LPA put a 7-day notice on its door, stating that anyone wishing to gain access for the removal of personal belongings must contact the agents within seven days and that all items remaining would be disposed of. The electrics were made safe on Sunday 8 June 2025, and some other repairs took place in the following three days.

Both 71 and 71A were sold in c.2024 and major repairs have been made to their drainage and other utilities as well as the interiors.

Chaa Affaire open

This Desi-style café/restaurant was formally opened by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Louise Upton, in the former Grounded Kitchen premises at 108–110 London Road on 8 February 2026. It serves Indian/Pakistani street food (plus some English items).

Ramen Koncept open

Ramen Koncept opened in the former Craft Burger premises at 1 The Parade, Windmill Road on 18 March 2026. Its planning application for “Upgrades and installation of ventilation system, ducting and associated works. Installation of an awning canopy to front elevation” was approved on 6 March 2026:

Craft Burger closed down in November 2025, and the shop was advertised for sale at £225,000 (leasehold).

Namaste Gurkha Lounge coming to former Starbucks

Namaste Kitchen PVT Ltd has submitted a planning application for the former Starbucks for "Installation of extraction system to rear elevation and associated works":

It has been granted a premises licence for the supply of alcohol from 10am to 11pm (including live and recorded music from 11am to 11pm), seven days a week:

Starbucks closed down in mid-May 2025. When it opened in the former Pronuptia bridal shop on 22 October 2007 it was Headington's first coffee shop.

Breckon & Breckon moving into former NatWest Bank

Breckon & Breckon Estate Agents (currently at 109 London Road next to Chancellor's) are making extensive alteration to the former NatWest building at 89–91 London Road. On 23 June 2026 their planning application was approved for “External alterations include replacement of existing railings, alterations to wall to form opening for 1no. window to the west elevation, replacement of existing air conditioning unit, alterations to fenestrations, formation of a new access gate to the AC enclosure and alterations to shop front and signage”:

On 13 November 2025 Wooldridge & Simpson started major structural work on this building (building control application 25/01062/IN).

The building has been vacant since the NatWest Bank closed on 7 February 2023. The lease was advertised by Green & Partners at a rent of £40,000 p.a.

The freehold of this building was bought by Pinky Pinks Property Ltd (registered in the British Virgin Islands) for £645,000 on 5 September 2013 (ON103063).

A planning application relating to Flat 1 above (24/01958/CEU) “to certify that the existing subdivision of 1 x 1 flat into 2 x 1 flats (Use Class C3) is lawful development” was approved in November 2024.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) to reopen in 2027

The Oxford Spirit Group has announced that they have acquired the original stills and will be reopening TOAD on its original site in Cheney Lane in June 2027@

Red Sky closed

Red Sky at 115 London Road, which had a zero hygiene rating, closed down in June 2026 around the time that Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards submitted a Review of Premises Licence 25/02673/TRPREM because of “extensive evidence that the licensed premises has been repeatedly used to sell and store illegal, contraband tobacco in breach of the licensing objectives. In addition, that statutory tobacco warning notice was not displayed, in breach of legal requirements. Significant breaches of the existing licence conditions were also detected.”

The premises were almost immediately occupied by Master Butchers Mark II.

Master Butchers closed (but reopening again opposite)

Master Butchers Mark I opened at Unit 1B, Holyoake Hall in February 2025 and closed in March 2026. That shop (formerly Bluefin fishmongers) is available to let at £25,000 per year:

Headington Co-op closed

The large Co-op supermarket at 152 London Road closed on Saturday 3 January 2026 and will be replaced by a laboratory:

Sobell House charity shop closed

The Sobell House charity shop at 119 London Road closed on 28 March 2026. The Oxford Mail reported that increased running costs mean that it is not raising enough money to stay open. It is advertised to let at £28,500 a year:

Cancer Research UK: both charity shops to close

Cancer Research UK explains here why it is closing almost 200 of its charity shops, including its two shops in central Headington (which will bring the number of charity shops in Headington down to four):

79c London Road (north side): closing in September 2026:

114 London Road (south side): closed on Saturday 6 June 2026 and available to rent at £5000 per month:

Former British Heart Foundation charity shop

The former British Heart Foundation charity shop at 94a London Road that closed on 24 December 2025 is advertised to let at £38,985 p.a.

69 London Road: Freehold for sale

The freehold of the premises of 69 London Road on the corner of Osler Road (which is leased until December to Dignity Funerals/Oliver & James) is advertised for sale, with offers over £500,000 invited. There is a brief history here of this shop, which was designed by Thomas Rayson.

Mazaya Mediterranean repossessed and for sale

Mazaya Mediterranean at 2A Windmill Road opened on 18 June 2025, (replacing the House of Seoul, the oriental grocery store that opened on 22 June 2024 in the former Sue Ryder charity shop and closed down in April 2025). The Mazaya which was run by QB Oxford Ltd survived less than two months and was closed by mid-August 2025. The landlord originally put the property up for sale (leasehold) for £70,000 or to rent at £2,292 per month, and repossessed the premises on 4 November 2025. It is now offered to let at £30,000 per annum.

Other Headington business premises not yet let
Former Leaders

2c Hollytree House, Windmill Road

This is advertised to let with NJC at a rent of £25,750 pa.

Former Coventry Building Society

133 & 135 London Road

This closed on 8 January 2022 after c.40 years in these premises. Extensive work was done on the building, and this seems to have resumed in spring 2026, with major work undertaken by Thames Water.

Crown & Thistle pub

From September 2024 Fleurets advertised that the Crown & Thistle pub was for sale with freehold tenure at a price of £375,000, but the advertisement has been taken down.

Land North of Bayswater Brook development

Detailed background to this development

Oxford City Council unanimously approved the full planning application by Christ Church for the land north of Bayswater Brook at its meeting on 15 October 2024, but was only responding to the access points that enter city council land:

The entire full planning applications including roads and flood defences was approved by South Oxfordshire District Council on 11 November 2024.

This major development across Headington's Green Belt farmland stretching from the Marston flyover to the Bayswater Road is planned by Christ Church with Dorchester Residential Development. Here Christ Church sums up the development and include an illustration of the new cycling and pedestrian bridge that will cross to it from Northway:

The Environment Agency has withdrawn this flooding objection:

There are three relevant planning applications:

(1) Infrastructure only (FULL application)

This was submitted to both Oxford City Council and to South Oxfordshire District Council and includes:
• Cycle/pedestrian bridge over A40
• New vehicular access on to Elsfield Lane
• Two new vehicular accesses on to Bayswater Road
• Two new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Five pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Flood alleviation measures

Duplicate full planning applications:

(2) Buildings (OUTLINE & FULL applications)

This was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council only, and has been approved. It is in two parts:
— Outline planning application for up to 1,450 dwellings, 120 assisted living dwellings, commercial/business/service buildings/health provision, a new primary school, green infrastructure, parking, surface water, and utilities
— Full planning application relating to buildings at Wick Farm, and some new buildings there, etc.

(3) Work to listed buildings on site (FULL application)

This was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council only and relates to existing listed buildings on the development site:
“Refurbishment works to the Main Barn and three curtilage barns and refurbishment works to the Wick Farm Well House building”

A fourth planning application to relocate the Grade II listed boundary stone dated 1684 because it interfered with the earlier proposed bus route was withdrawn: P23/S1832/LB. Also Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management announced that they would be launching appeals to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to (1) and (2) above for Oxford City Council's and South Oxfordshire District Council's failure to give notice of a decision. but this did not happen and instead they have submitted heavily revised plans..

Official Bayswater Oxford website
(Christ Church & Dorchester Residential Management)

Developments on Ruskin College site

The following planning application submitted by the University of West London (UWL) was approved in June 2023:

"Demolition of the existing 24-bed student accommodation building (Bowen Building) and erection of 65-bed student accommodation building and erection of 30-bed student accommodation building with associated landscaping":

(The above was an updated version of the previous approved application which expired in 2021 for two new student accommodation buildings on the site (17/02387/FUL) for a net gain of 71 new student rooms.)

In March 2026 UWL submitted an application 26/00815/CEU (not yet decided) “to certify that the existing development authorised by planning permission 22/00962/FUL at Ruskin Hall, Dunstan Road, Oxford is lawful development”.

Former Crown & Thistle pub, 132 Old Road

This pub closed down on 31 December 2011, and on 30 November 2012 the freehold of the building was purchased from Greene King for £425,000 by developers (S. P. Singh, S. J. Kaur, and G. Kaur).

This building was granted Heritage Asset status on 23 March 2022:

On 10 January 2024 the following “permission in principle” planning application submitted by Medallion (Oxford) Ltd was refused: “Re-development of the former public house for between 1no. and 9no. dwellings (Use Class C3) (All matters of design including scale, demolition and/or conversion and all technical matters reserved for future application)”:

On 23 September 2022 an earlier “permission in principle” application (identical except that it referred to a minimum of seven dwellings) was also refused: “Re-development of the former public house for between 7no. and 9no. dwellings (Use Class C3) (All matters of design including scale, demolition and/or conversion and all technical matters reserved for future application)”
(Amended description)

Separate development on the Crown & Thistle car park

On 26 June 2013 the developers were granted planning permission to build the three four-bedroomed houses that now stand in its large car park to the west:

Barton Park development

Work started in 2015, and the current situation is as follows:

  • Phase 1: Hill completed all of its 237 homes (“Mosaics”) and Barton Park Primary School in 2020
  • Phase 3: Redrow completed the building of its 207 homes in 2005 (“The Steeples”)
  • Phases 2 & 4: Countryside Housebuilding West started at the end of 2022 on the final largest phase comprising 441 homes (“Beckley Place”) plus the retail space, but work came to a halt. Countryside was subsequently combined with the Vistry Group and this final part of the Barton Park development is now underway and expected to be completed in 2027.

For full details about the whole development, please see the separate page: Barton Park development

Voi e-scooters

The Department for Transport has again set its e-scooter trials to continue, this time until 1 June 2026:

The Oxford trial started in Headington alone in 2021 with just 25 Voi scooters and restricted hours, but by 2023 there were 750 Voi scooters throughout the city available 24/7. They are easily identified by their coral colour.

Headington was initially selected by Oxfordshire County Council and Voi Scooters for a twelve-month trial of e-scooters to rent, starting on 18 February 2021, following the granting of a licence to operate by the Department for Transport to the county council.

The Voi scooters are allowed in cycle lanes but banned on pavements without lanes, and can only be used by people over 18 with a provisional or full driving licence. Riders can be banned from driving cars if prosecuted for drink-driving while riding a Voi scooter (e.g. see under 13 June 2023 here).

All privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public roads

Another major Thornhill development

On 13 December 2022 planners resolved to approve the application submitted by the Shaviram Group for a major development in Risinghurst subject to the conditions specified in the minutes of that meeting. The section 106 agreement was finalized in September 2024:

The site is behind and to the west of their existing Thornhill Court and Marley House flats at the Thornhill Park development in the former Nielsen's offices. The description of the plans is as follows:

“Demolition of The Cottage building. Partial demolition and alterations to Forest Lodge building. Erection of 402 apartments (Class C3), a 133 bed hotel (Class C1), employment provision in the form of offices, with additional mixed use accommodation to include gym, café and restaurant (all within Class E), public open space, associated landscape, bicycle and car parking and the provision of a new vehicular access onto the A40”.

The 122-bed hotel

Soon after the planning meeting Sandhill Development Ltd (Shavriam Group) put up for sale as a development opportunity the part of their site at Thornhill that relates to the 133-bedroom hotel, with offers to be in by 20 March 2023. Since January 2024 the as yet unbuilt hotel has been marked as under offer:

HMO legislation
Planning permission

A house in multi-occupation in Oxford must have C4 planning permission, which is unlikely to be granted in streets that already have a high proportion of student housing.

The following appeals by landlords relating to the refusal of change of use from C3 to C4 status in Headington have been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate:

Licensing

In addition, since 24 February 2012, Oxford City Council regulations have required that a house with just three or four unrelated occupants is licensed as a HMO. Licences for these smaller houses are awarded subject to modifications being made within six months (e.g. a cooker now has to have a work-surface on each side; there must be a wired in smoke-detector on each floor and a heat detector in the kitchen; the kitchen area must be fitted with a fire door; and where the front door can be double-locked, a box with key and hammer has to be attached to the wall).

Headington Action revised grant schemes

Headington Action can provide small grants for projects that will benefit the local community.  There are two types of grant: Small Sparks Grants offer start-up funding, typically to enable new projects to ‘get off the ground’, while Community Support Grants provide for other community activities.  Normal limits are £250 for Small Sparks and £500 for Community Support Grants. 

Application forms and further details are available here on the Headington Action website.

Letting out driveways for parking

In July 2015 JustPark wrote to nearly every household in Headington suggesting that they could earn £1500 a year renting out their driveway. A search for "Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom" on their website reveals that over 100 people in the area were already doing this with them:

Other similar companies are also operating in the area:
ParkLet and Your Parking Space and Park on My Drive.

Property in Headington owned offshore

In 2015 Private Eye put online an interactive map showing all English and Welsh property acquired by overseas companies between 2005 and December 2014.

Repatriation tributes in Headley Way

The John Radcliffe Hospital houses the Armed Forces Department of Pathology, and when members of the forces are killed their bodies are taken there. The funeral cortège passes through Marsh Lane and Headington on their way to the hospital.

These repatriations are now thankfully very rare, but from March 2008 to May 2014 the Royal British Legion, joined by members of the public, held 153 repatriation tributes for 321 members of the services outside St Anthony of Padua Church in Headley Way:

Sign up on the official Oxfordshire County Council website to be notified of any future repatriation dates and times:

Can’t find a news item?

Older news items are moved to separate pages. Links to news pages from 2001 to 2025 can be found at the foot of this page.

Directory of Headington & Marston websites

Community activities

See Headington Action's Community Activity Directory

Headington Centre Notice Boards

From January 2025 posters should be dropped off at 13 Stephen Road, OX3 9AY (and not as was originally announced). They will be collected on Saturdays and put up on Sundays.

Envelopes should be labelled “Notice Board” and posters should be no bigger than A5 because of pressures on space. (Larger posters may not be displayed.)