THE "special character" of two of Oxfordshire's most picturesque villages has been recorded to make sure that any future development remains in keeping with their surroundings.

Conservation area character appraisals of Bloxham and Hook Norton have been adopted by Cherwell District Council in a bid to record the settlements' special character and add to understanding of the villages for future planning decisions.

George Reynolds, the council's development portfolio holder, said: "Now the executive has adopted the conservation area appraisals for the core areas of Bloxham and Hook Norton, two of the district's larger villages, the council will have up-to-date information when dealing with applications within them.

"Unfortunately we can do nothing about the volume of traffic, but we will liaise with the parish and county councils about preserving or enhancing the historic street scenes."

Bloxham's conservation area was designated in 1975, when it was one of the first village's in the district to have one. Hook Norton's conservation area was created in 1988.

But this is the first time that character appraisals, recording the villages' history and key characteristics such as street layout and building age, have been carried out.

Both villages are based on Anglo-Saxon settlements and have medieval street plans at the heart of their conservation areas.

The conservation area appraisals will be used to guide planning decisions in the designated area.

The appraisals have been put together following consultations which included exhibitions and public meetings.

Copies of the full appraisal can be seen at Banbury Library, in Calthorpe Street, Hook Norton Library, Bloxham Village Museum, Bodicote House, Bodicote, and on Cherwell District Council's website www.cherwell-dc. gov.uk/planning/ conareaappraisals.cfm