Stewardship Case Studies

Community Management Organisation for North-West Bicester Ecotown

2024- Present

Community First Oxfordshire was commissioned by Cherwell District Council to undertake an options appraisal for how best to set up and maintain a viable community management organisation for the NW Bicester Eco-Town Development, with a recommendation for a preferred model based upon community engagement to best understand local aspirations.  

Stewardship in Chipping Norton

2023

Chipping Norton Town Council commissioned a research study to analyse the current provision of assets in the town, identify other assets that were needed, and consider possible stewardship opportunities in relation to assets.  

We also reviewed potential stewardship bodies and legal entities and helped to plan for the creation of a local stewardship organisation. 

Stewardship Support for Eynsham Parish Council

2022 – Present

Community First Oxfordshire is supporting Enysham Parish Council to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. This includes advising on stewardship strategies, developing bespoke stewardship rationale and policies, and facilitating stakeholder workshops with the wider community. We are also supporting the Parish Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and site developers to progress a collective stewardship solution.

Spade Oak Quarry, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire

2021

This former sand quarry, owned and operated by Tarmac for many years, comprises a substantial water body adjacent to the River Thames at Little Marlow. It is an important refuge for birds and over time has seen growth of reedbeds. A local trust sought to secure a long-term stewardship arrangement over this area as part of the creation of a wider new Country Park to the east of Marlow. Community First Oxfordshire supported negotiations with the Local Authority and other owners on behalf of the Trust, devising proposals that would give the Trust a secure income to sustain its future operations. Although Tarmac sold their interest, the Local Authority has continued to work with the Trust to develop the wider Country Park with the Spade Oak site. It remains a work in progress but there is great support from the community for sustainable stewardship.

Buckland Park Lake, Surrey

2020

This former sand quarry gradually filled to become one of Surrey’s largest water bodies, part of which comprises a shallow lagoon area suitable for open swimming. A Family Trust wanted to bring it back into use and proposed several uses to achieve a sustainable income. The trust appointed Community First Oxfordshire to oversee the implementation process, the development of the design concept, and the securing of necessary planning approvals – including negotiating the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, managing the RPA grant application process and managing the works programme.

We helped deliver a new Outdoor Pursuits Hub building with a meeting room, a new car park with drainage infrastructure, and a new accessible lakeside café offering elevated views for visitors. We also ensured the site retained natural areas of native ancient woodland and heathland, reedbeds and other habitats, including high sandstone cliffs. The site was opened to the public as a country park in 2020 and has built a sustainable income for the estate.