Construction work has begun at Hayfield’s latest site – a former WWII airfield in Oxfordshire – where the fast growing housebuilder will deliver 66 new homes.
Image: A new home at Hayfield’s Fallowfield development in Southmore, Oxfordshire (Credit: Hayfield Homes)
Hayfield has commenced construction on its most challenging project to date; the conversion and new build redevelopment of the 21-acre former Stanton Harcourt WWII Airfield in West Oxfordshire.
The £25million scheme – which will be known as Hayfield Green – has a two-year build programme. The first phase of the 66 one to five-bedroom homes will be made available for sale when the scheme launches to the public in late September.
The collection of traditional brick, stone and render homes will feature Hayfield’s luxurious specification, including bespoke Manor kitchens, Laufen bathrooms, Minoli ceramic tiles, underfloor heating, heritage bronze ironmongery and Farrow & Ball paint. A special feature will be the installation of Crittall windows in the refurbished homes, in accordance with the original steel window manufacturer for all the historic airfield buildings.
The site is notable for having been a departure point for Winston Churchill for the pivotal Casablanca Conference. It was also a starting point for a bomber raid on the German battleship Scharnhorst. To retain its historic significance, Hayfield will be sensitively refurbishing the Bomber Teaching Building and Crew Lockers to apartments and bungalows. Another aspect of the two-year build programme will see Hayfield restoring and converting the former Guard Room, which will be handed over to Stanton Harcourt Parish Council for use as a community hub.
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Other historic structures to be restored include the original Water Tower, three Blast Shelters and an underground air raid shelter, with new information boards to explain their heritage. A landscaped pattern of walking routes will weave its way through Hayfield Green and along the airfield’s former taxiway so that residents, locals and visitors alike can partake on a historical journey of the site’s story.
Andy Morris, Operations Director for Hayfield said: “This is a highly sensitive and completely unique development. The site ceased to be used as an airfield in 1946 and a number of the WWII buildings of special interest have fallen into a poor state of repair. Over a complex two-year build programme, in addition to creating 66 new and refurbished homes, Hayfield will be immortalising the WWII airfield and opening up the site for locals and those travelling from further afield to appreciate its place in history.”
Mark Gay, Hayfield’s Planning Director added: “With the launch of Hayfield Green taking place in two months, we are excited to showcase the homes we will have for sale, which are being carefully positioned across the sprawling 21-acre site. As a result of feedback from a well-attended planning consultation session held in the Village Hall last year, the new homes complement both the architectural simplicity of the former airfield, as well as a traditional Oxfordshire village vernacular.”
