Sibford Scene Archive

More than seventy people over the age of 75 got together for a delicious Christmas Tea in Sibford Village Hall on the 15th December.

A huge ‘Thank You’ must go to the organisations that made this possible:

• Town Estate Charity
• Sibford Parochial Church Council
• Deanfield Homes.

Also to the Sibford Belles who brought the event to a close singing Christmas carols.

Thanks also go to the team of 22 people who created this happy, welcoming afternoon.

Joan Broady

We had an excellent response this year with the total collection coming to £1899.60. There will be a small increase on this due to the contactless app, the total from which I do not yet know. Aa usual a huge thanks goes to all the individuals, schools, Church and other organisations who worked hard to achieve this and to all the people in Sibford who contributed so generously.

Peter Abbott

Rural Exception Sites (RES) are small plots of land located on the edge of existing rural settlements. Introduced in 1991, these sites are not allocated for residential development within the local authority’s adopted development plan. However, they are considered for affordable housing to address proven local housing needs and sustain rural communities. The primary purpose of RES is to provide affordable homes for local residents, ensuring that these homes remain affordable in perpetuity. They provide homes for young and older residents to ensure they can remain in the village in which they live or have close family ties.

Historically, Sibford Ferris Parish Council had obtained a RES on a small site on the Hook Norton Road opposite the new entrance to Sibford School. A scheme was drawn up with Oxfordshire County Council and an affiliated Housing Association to build 9 affordable homes for villagers who had demonstrated a need in a Local Housing Survey. With rising building costs, the scheme was reconsidered to include one or two homes at commercial market price to make it financially viable. In the year 2021/2022 RES were found to be delivering far less affordable homes than were required and planning constraints were eased. This attracted housing developers and landowners because the land was now offered at much higher than agricultural land prices. The RES land remainder of the field was sold and Outline Planning for 25 houses, of which 9 would pr be affordable, was granted to a housing developer. Final plans were submitted and the land was sold again to a new developer, Deanfield if Homes. Based in High Wycombe they specialise in building small to medium ‘E sized residential developments in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Building work started in 2024.

During 2025 the first new residents have moved into Deanfield Heights. A further small development for five additional new homes has been granted on an adjacent field. This will be the largest housing development in Sibford Ferris since the completion ofthe Manor Development in 2006. We welcome all who move into their new homes in Stour View and hope they will soon become part of our thriving village community.

Maureen Hicks