Puy du Dou Oxfordshire plans ‘welcomed’ by district council

Puy du Fou, the creator of award-winning history-themed destinations in France and Spain, submitted an outline planning application to Cherwell District Council [1] for the site near to junction 10 of the M40 on land north of Bucknell, near Bicester last month. Bosses say this followed an 'extensive' consultation, which took more than a year and included six in-person events and more than 250 individual meetings. If approved, the new park will open in phases beginning in 2029.

So far more than 330 comments have been made on the application, with people from all over the world - including in Australia and Amsterdam - sharing their views on the plans. A number of authorities and public bodies, including Thames Water and National Highways, have also commented. Puy du Fou UK lake view(Image: Puy du Fou)

West Oxfordshire District Council [3], which covers towns including Woodstock, Burford, Chipping Norton, Charlbury, Carterton and Witney, has left a letter of support. It states: "The council acknowledges the ambition of the scheme and its potential to enhance West Oxfordshire's position as a leading tourism destination, complementing the existing heritage and cultural offer of the Cotswolds and nearby attractions such as Woodstock and Blenheim Palace. "The family-oriented and heritage-focused nature of the proposed attractions aligns with the district's tourism profile.

Increased visitor footfall is expected to benefit surrounding villages and attractions, supporting local businesses through overflow demand. "The proposal presents opportunities to stimulate demand for hospitality, retail, and cultural services. "It could foster local entrepreneurship and support training and career development through partnerships with schools (e.g., Marlborough School, A&W), colleges, and theatre companies.

Puy du Fou in France(Image: Newsquest) "The potential for expanded qualifications and apprenticeships in tourism, creative industries, media, and hospitality is welcomed." The authority added that initiatives such as free entry days for local residents would 'strengthen community ties and foster pride in place'.

The letter concludes: "With careful consideration of the outlined conditions and continued collaboration with local stakeholders, the scheme could represent a transformative opportunity for the wider region. "We look forward to ongoing dialogue to ensure the proposal aligns with shared strategic objectives and delivers lasting value for our communities." Middleton Stoney Parish Council has objected to the plans and Bucknell Parish Council has requested a six-month comment extension.

Puy du Fou in France(Image: Newsquest)

Middleton Stoney Parish Council said while it is 'grateful for the outreach efforts made by the promoters of the scheme and recognises the benefits it could bring', the 'predominantly rural location proposed is not appropriate for a development of this scale'.

"If permission is granted, it should only be on the basis of significant s 106 funding to Middleton Stoney to deal with the inevitable traffic [6] problems this development will cause, and on the basis the county and district councils monitor closely the transport projections, and intervenes to stop further development if these projections prove unduly optimistic as we suspect," the parish council added.

References

^ Cherwell District Council (www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk)
^ Time running out to submit comments on Puy du Fou UK plans | Oxford Mail (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ West Oxfordshire District Council (www.westoxon.gov.uk)
^ Puy du Fou UK theme park support group celebrates milestone | Oxford Mail (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ Puy du Fou: Suppliers able to register interest for UK site | Oxford Mail (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ traffic (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)