Graven Hill, Bicester

Overview

Graven Hill is unlike anywhere else in Britain. On the southern edge of Bicester, on land formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence, Cherwell District Council and the Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) are building approximately 1,900 homes across 188 hectares — with the deliberate ambition of making self-build the norm, not the exception.

The first self-build plots were released in summer 2016; custom homes followed in 2018. The development has been featured on Grand Designs: The Streets, and has attracted buyers who want genuine creative control over their home without the usual complexity of finding land, obtaining planning permission, and arranging infrastructure from scratch. Graven Hill removes those barriers and provides pre-serviced plots with a simplified planning process.

For buyers who want a new home without the building process, Graven Hill also offers conventional new-build homes and apartments — so the choice ranges from full self-build to ready-to-move-in.

Four ways to live here

Affordable housing — shared ownership and affordable rent — is also available on-site.

Prices

New-build homes at Graven Hill (ready-to-move-in) are priced from approximately:

• 2-bedroom homes — from £395,000 (detached; ~875–908 sq ft)
• 4-bedroom homes — from £520,000 (detached; ~1,230–1,578 sq ft)

Self-build plot prices depend on plot size and location within the site. Custom home prices vary by type and stage of reservation. Contact the on-site marketing suite (01869 390 009, sales@gravenhill.co.uk) for current availability and pricing — prices change as phases are released.

Prices sourced from gravenhill.co.uk, May 2026. Always verify directly with the developer.

The Golden Brick explained

The Golden Brickis Graven Hill's key innovation for self-builders. Rather than buying bare land and dealing with utilities, drainage, and road access yourself, GHVDC builds:

• All roads, footpaths, and drainage infrastructure across the village
• The foundations for your specific plot, designed to accommodate your chosen layout
• Utility connections (gas, electric, water, broadband) to the plot boundary

You take over from the foundations up — designing and building the structure, finishes, and specification of your home. This gives you a genuine custom home while removing the most difficult parts of self-build: site acquisition, planning from scratch, and groundwork coordination.

Graven Hill also has a simplified planning process: a Design Code sets the parameters (height, massing, setbacks, materials palette), and plots come with outline permission already in place. You submit a detailed design within those parameters — significantly faster and lower risk than a conventional self-build planning application.

Community and amenities

Graven Hill is still growing, and amenities are developing alongside it:

• Primary school — on-site; already open and serving the community
• Pre-school nursery — planned
• Community centre — planned as the village reaches critical mass
• Retail / village shops — planned within the development
• Employment space — the site includes land designated for new employment uses
• Green space — surrounding woodland, allotments, cycle paths, footpaths, and sports pitches across the 188-hectare site

For everything else — supermarkets, restaurants, bars, Bicester Village outlet — you are a 10-minute walk from Bicester town centre.

Location and transport

Graven Hill sits on the southern edge of Bicester, approximately 14 miles north-east of Oxford.

• Bicester Village station — 10-minute walk; Chiltern Railways to London Marylebone and Cross-Country to Oxford; proposed as an East West Rail station in the April 2026 consultation
• Bicester North station — short drive or cycle; Chiltern services to London, Oxford, Banbury, Birmingham
• M40 J9 — 3 miles; London or Oxford by road in under an hour in normal conditions
• Oxford city centre — ~12 miles / ~25 min by car; ~20 min by train to Oxford Parkway
• London Marylebone — ~1 hour by rail

The site has a dedicated cycle and footpath network connecting internally and to Bicester town centre, making it possible to live car-light for daily errands.

Who it suits

• Self-build visionaries — people who have always wanted to design their own home but thought it too difficult. Graven Hill solves the three biggest problems: land, planning, and groundwork.
• Families wanting space and greenery — large plots, a primary school already on-site, and 188 hectares with woodland and sports pitches.
• Buyers priced out of Oxford — Graven Hill offers more space and greater personalisation than most Oxford-adjacent developments, at lower prices than central Oxford.
• London commuters — one hour to Marylebone by rail makes this viable for hybrid workers.
• Sustainability-focused buyers — the Design Code encourages high energy efficiency and sustainable construction; many self-builders are using the opportunity to build to Passivhaus or equivalent standards.
• People who want to be part of something — Graven Hill has an unusually strong community ethos; residents designed and built their own homes, which creates a different kind of neighbourhood investment.

Trade-offs to consider

• Still developing — some amenities (community centre, retail) are planned but not yet complete. This will improve as the site matures.
• Self-build complexity — even with the Golden Brick, you need to manage architects, contractors, and a build programme. It is easier than conventional self-build but not effortless.
• Resale market — bespoke homes can be harder to value and sell than standard new-builds; lenders may require specialist valuations.
• OX25 postcode — Graven Hill uses OX25, not OX26 (the core Bicester postcode). School catchments and service registrations should be checked specifically for your plot address.

Postcode

Graven Hill is within the OX25 postcode district — which covers the Bicester rural fringe, Heyford Park, and villages to the north and west of the M40. The marketing suite is at OX25 2DR; the site office at OX25 2BF. This is distinct from OX26, the core Bicester town postcode. When registering for schools, GPs, or council services, use your specific Graven Hill plot address rather than a generic Bicester postcode.