THE former US Air Force base at Upper Heyford has been sold, with its new owner pledging to retain existing housing and redevelop other buildings.
Base manager Michael Loveland said the site, west of Bicester, had been bought by the Dorchester Group.
The site was owned by Taylor Woodrow and Persimmon Homes, but the North Oxfordshire Consortium runs the former base, an arrangement which will continue.
Anji Hall, the vice chairman of the Heyford Park Residents’ Association, said members had held talks with Paul Silver, managing director of the Dorchester Group, to hear about the firm’s plans to develop the site.
She added: “We have been told they want everyone to stay in their homes, that they will make the homes better and will encourage people to buy their homes.”
The North Oxfordshire Consortium wants to build 1,075 new houses, a primary school and retail and business units at the site.
A public inquiry was held into the plans and a decision is expected to be announced in January next year.
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