Plans to buy surplus MoD land in Bicester to create the UK’s largest self-build development have taken a major step forward.

Last Monday, Cherwell District Council’s executive agreed to press ahead with multi-million pound plans to buy the 187 hectare site for 1,900 homes, a school, shops, and business land to create up to 2,000 jobs.

The cost of the site has not been revealed, and the council hopes to exchange contracts with Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the MoD’s property arm, later this month.