The regeneration of a former airbase by Jestico+Whiles
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State-of-the-art Village by Jestico + Whiles

The regeneration of a former airbase by Jestico+Whiles
By Editorial Staff -

Plans to create a new state-of-the-art village centre at Heyford Park, Upper Heyford have been given the green light by Cherwell District Council.
Dorchester Living, the developer behind the regeneration of the former Upper Heyford airbase, has confirmed that it will begin work on the new village centre at the beginning of next year, with the construction process estimated to take just over 12 months to complete.
Focusing on a service-based lifestyle of the residents and those who live in North Oxfordshire, the new village centre will be like no other in the country - pushing the boundaries of design and the types of services on offer.
Acknowledging the history of this former US airbase is at the heart of the thought process around the design and plans.
The design looks to repurpose two former RAF buildings and using contrasting, modern materials to extend the spaces, making them more suitable for communal use. The end result will provide flexible open spaces with an abundance of natural light as well as period features from the original buildings.
The village centre scheme is being designed by award-winning architects Jestico + Whiles. The practice has proven expertise in delivering excellent and sustainable designs within major urban regeneration schemes involving the refurbishment of historic buildings, including Spitalfields and Borough Market in London.
Providing a unique experience, the new village centre is to offer a range of aspirational services and facilities including a family friendly American style brasserie, boutique hotel, delicatessen and market hall, café and brunch bar, two terraces, external seating, co-working spaces, play areas and a landscaped area. Commenting Paul Silver, CEO, Dorchester Living, says: “This is an important milestone in the regeneration of Upper Heyford and our vision to create an exciting sustainable hub for enterprise, culture and living.
“We are reimaging how a village should look and feel, and by pushing the boundaries of the buildings purpose, design and materials, we are creating great community spaces that people can be proud of and inspired to use. We want these buildings and spaces to stand the test of time and that was integral to our planning.
“The new south side of the village centre will also create approximately 40 new jobs and provide other socio-economic improvements both now and in the future.”
Commenting James Dilley, Head of Hospitality, Jestico + Whiles, says: “We are thrilled to be working with Dorchester Living on this unique project. We honestly believe that there is currently no other comparable development in the UK in terms of the features and designs this scheme will deliver.
“Above all, our proposal for the village centre of Heyford Park is about place making, in part through reference to the rich context of this beautiful part of Oxfordshire and the layers of history on this site, not least the refurbishments of the heritage buildings of the former USAF base.
“It has been a great opportunity for us to draw on our expertise in the design of highly successful restaurants and hotels along with our rare skills in regenerating historic markets as highly successful retail and leisure opportunities.’’

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