Could a change of ownership at Heyford Park, the former RAF and United States Air Force airfield, finally break the planning deadlock which still hangs over it?

Looking at the history of the estate, there is little wonder that successive Government reports have called for a speed-up of the planning process.

Here is a 1,250-acre estate, set in beautiful rolling north Oxfordshire countryside. Yet more than 15 years after the last US plane took off no one knows the shape of things to come, despite it being bought earlier this month by London-based international property developer the Dorchester Group.

That includes Cherwell District Council, along with about 1,000 people working on the site for businesses on short-term lets, and, most importantly, about 800 tenants on shorthold agreements living in 315 houses and bungalows built to house military personnel and their families.

All concerned are awaiting the public inquiry inspector’s decision on whether or not to pull down the existing houses, allow 1,075 new homes to be built and develop a permanent business park, giving existing businesses, many occupying former hardened aircraft hangars, security of tenure.

The previous owner, the North Oxfordshire Consortium (NOC), bought the site in 1994 for £24m, shortly after the end of the Cold War.

The consortium of housebuilders — principally Taylor Woodrow, Wimpey and Persimmon — originally wanted to build 5,000 houses on the former base, before local people succeeded in having that number reduced to 1,075.

The Dorchester Group, which paid just under £40m for the estate, now has little option but to sit tight until the result of the second public inquiry (held in March last year) comes out in January 2010.

In the meantime it is reputedly collecting about £4m a year in rents from businesses and residents.

But, as the former chief executive of the North Oxfordshire Consortium Keith Watson told The Oxford Times, “Ageing infrastructure means that things cannot continue like this forever.”

Indeed, the NOC had decided the existing homes on the base should be pulled down to make way for new build.

The good news here for residents, since the Dorchester takeover, is that the group plans to refurbish the existing homes instead.

Anji Hall, vice-chairman of the Heyford Park Residents Association, said that Dorchester Group’s managing director Paul Silver had held a meeting to discuss refurbishment of the entire site.

She said: “We have been told they want everyone to stay in their homes, that they will make the homes better and will encourage people to buy their homes.”

A major business on the site is vehicle logistics company Paragon Fleet Solutions, which works for car manufacturers and fleet operators.

It has developed into the largest firm of its kind in the country, employing 500 people.

The NOC had wanted Paragon to occupy a 40-acre site but Cherwell District Council planners want to reduce that to 17 acres.

Paragon has threatened to pull out if this happens, following in the tyre tracks of car storage firm Wallon, which quit the site after its permission to stay there expired.

Paragon chief executive Steve Maltby said: “Obviously it is hard for us to live with this degree of uncertainty hanging over us for so long.

“We were disappointed that the inspector’s decision was delayed from April until January 11 next year, but I tell employees here that I hope common sense will prevail, and that the decision will go our way so that we shall be able to continue here.

“But while this limbo situation continues, jobs remain at risk. We have some major investment plans but all this delay inhibits expansion.”

He added that he felt he would be able to work well with the new owners of the estate.

Michael Gibbard, portfolio holder for planning at Cherwell District Council, also feels he can work well with the new owner.

He added: “We feel we tried hard to accommodate Paragon, but now that the planning inspector is involved she has become the arbitrator.

“But I do hope she will provide a way forward for the estate.

“I would hate to see it go back to square one after 15 years,” he added.

“We must wait and see.”

Certainly, as Mr Watson affirmed, people on the site want to see things settled.

He said: “It is a seemingly never-ending story, but there is a particularly good community spirit at Heyford Park.

“I have been concerned with council estates in the past and found it difficult to find community-spirited people, but here there is always someone willing to help with such organisations as Brownies or Guides.”

Paul Silver, of Dorchester Group, said: “Heyford is a special and unique place, a self-contained town within the midst of Oxfordshire countryside with a remarkable history.

“We believe it is best served by a vibrant community supported by successful businesses providing employment and investment. We look forward to restoring the many buildings which exist that are of national importance.

“The Dorchester Group is confident that existing homes can – with the right investment – become quality places to live for the longer-term.

“As a business, we have considerable experience in refurbishing existing properties and it is clear from our understanding of the base that there is demand for these sorts of properties alongside new development.

“Along with this, we will aim to improve the facilities to ensure that all parts of the site are successfully integrated.

“We are already working with Cherwell District Council to agree a long-term future for the base and are waiting for the planning inspector’s decision in January with great interest.”

Here is hoping that the long process of planning will yet prove its worth by balancing such seemingly conflicting interests as saving for posterity historic monuments to the Cold War (such as the Northern Bomb Store, once home to nuclear weapons); providing homes; and preserving jobs.

Perhaps one day Heyford could turn into an opportunity to produce a modern rural idyll, with parents able to walk to work and children able to walk to school.