Forest Close Launton, Cherwell
13 addresses across 2 postcodes (OX26), about 20 m long. USRN 6804905.
- Sales: 23 recorded sales since 1995; in 2024 the median was £280,000 across 1 sale.
- Energy: 6 homes have an energy certificate (D: 3, E: 2, F: 1).
- Flood: 12 addresses on its postcodes are in areas at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band C; Band D in Cherwell costs £2,583 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Bicester Village, about 2 km (1.2 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden is about 380 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 6.8 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.7 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: It is about 66 m above sea level.
- Noise: 1 of its 13 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Alchester Medical Group, about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) away.
- People: About 350 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 77% of households owned their home and 29% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 9 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
| Year | Sales | Median price | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | £280,000 | £280,000 | £280,000 |
| 2020 | 1 | £289,950 | £289,950 | £289,950 |
| 2019 | 1 | £247,000 | £247,000 | £247,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | £268,000 | £268,000 | £268,000 |
| 2011 | 1 | £195,000 | £195,000 | £195,000 |
| 2005 | 1 | £165,000 | £165,000 | £165,000 |
| 2004 | 1 | £153,000 | £153,000 | £153,000 |
| 2002 | 1 | £130,000 | £130,000 | £130,000 |
| 2000 | 2 | £94,750 | £91,000 | £98,500 |
| 1999 | 1 | £78,000 | £78,000 | £78,000 |
| 1998 | 3 | £80,000 | £79,000 | £84,000 |
| 1997 | 1 | £44,950 | £44,950 | £44,950 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2025 | 5 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £254,500 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 16 Jul 2024 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £280,000 | |
| 23 Sep 2020 | 1 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £289,950 | |
| 2 Oct 2019 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £247,000 | |
| 10 Aug 2018 | 2 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £245,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 1 Aug 2018 | 7 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £268,000 | |
| 11 Nov 2011 | 5 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £195,000 | |
| 12 Aug 2005 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £165,000 | |
| 16 Jul 2004 | 3 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £153,000 | |
| 10 May 2002 | 7 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £130,000 | |
| 14 Mar 2000 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £91,000 | |
| 14 Jan 2000 | 4 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £98,500 | |
| 8 Jan 1999 | 8 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £78,000 | |
| 31 Dec 1998 | 8 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £79,000 | |
| 6 Aug 1998 | 2 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £80,000 | |
| 20 Jul 1998 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £84,000 | |
| 27 Mar 1997 | 1 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £44,950 | New build. |
| 12 Dec 1996 | 4 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £59,995 | New build. |
| 6 Dec 1996 | 3 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £56,000 | New build. |
| 5 Jul 1996 | 6 OX26 5DD | Semi-detached | £55,000 | New build. |
| 28 Jun 1996 | 5 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £58,000 | New build. |
| 17 May 1996 | 7 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £59,995 | New build. |
| 8 Mar 1996 | 10 OX26 5DD | Terraced | £56,000 | New build. |
Energy performance certificates
6 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 62 m². Most common: House, end-terrace (3); House, mid-terrace (3). Built: 1996-2002 (3); 1983-1990 (2); 1991-1995 (1). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (5); rented (private) (1).
Each home's certificates and sales (4 addresses)
Council tax
What each band costs in Cherwell in 2026-27: Band D £2,583 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,722 | £2,009 | £2,296 | £2,583 | £3,157 | £3,731 | £4,305 | £5,166 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band C (27% of about 890 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this street's postcodes is in one.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Green belt: no.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Launton Sewage Treatment Works, Launton, not permissioned (690 m (0.4 miles))
- Land North of Station Road, Launton, Appeal Allowed (Against Refusal) (800 m (0.5 miles))
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 31 October 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 4 addresses are in areas at high risk, 8 at medium risk and 14 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre on this street is in flood zone 2 or 3.
| Postcode | Planning zone | Addresses at high / medium / low risk | Groundwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| OX26 5DD | not in 2 or 3 | 1 / 0 / 4 | unlikely |
| OX26 5DR | not in 2 or 3 | 3 / 8 / 10 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's addresses are about 66 m above sea level.
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OX26 5DD | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| OX26 5DR | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Bicester Village 1.9 million journeys in 2024–25 | 2 km (1.2 miles) |
| Bicester North 823,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 2 km (1.3 miles) | |
| Islip 39,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 11.5 km (7.1 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 4 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 9 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Post Office Launton | 140 m |
| EV charging points | PoGo Charge | 2.4 km (1.5 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 51.9 km (32 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 1 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Alchester Medical Group | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 1 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Jardines Pharmacy | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
| NHS dentists | Dental Surgery | 2.1 km (1.3 miles) |
| Hospital | Bicester Community Hospital | 2.5 km (1.6 miles) |
| Police station | Waddesdon Police Station | 7.6 km (4.7 miles) |
| Cash machines | Tesco Bank ATM | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 8,340 m² | 380 m |
| Play area | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 290 m² | 320 m |
| Playing field | Unnamed 2.1 ha | 1.4 km (0.8 miles) |
| Allotments | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Launton Plotters Allotments 9,790 m² | 510 m (0.3 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 1 park or garden, 0.8 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Church of St Mary, a listed building (Grade I), 180 m north-west. 23 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 1 of them Grade I and 1 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Church of St Mary | Listed building, Grade I | 180 m north-west |
| Barn Approximately 50 Metres South of Manor Farmhouse | Listed building, Grade II* | 220 m north-west |
| RAF Bicester: World War II airfield | Scheduled monument | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) north |
| Wretchwick deserted medieval settlement | Scheduled monument | 1.6 km (1 mile) south-west |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Longlands Spinney | Wood | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) north |
| Blackthorn Hill | Hill | 2 km (1.2 miles) south |
| Graven Hill | Hill | 2.8 km (1.8 miles) south-west |
| Gravenhill Wood | Wood | 2.9 km (1.8 miles) south-west |
| Weir Pond | Lake or reservoir | 3 km (1.8 miles) south-east |
| Foxey Leys Copse | Wood | 3.4 km (2.1 miles) west |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 6.8 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.7 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 10.9 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | 1 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 12 | 13 |
1 of the street's 13 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Cherwell: see them on the Cherwell page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launton Church of England Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 140 m | Requires improvement (Feb 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Langford Village Community Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
| Longfields Primary and Nursery School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) | Report card (Jun 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention; Achievement: Needs attention; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Needs attention; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Glory Farm Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | No published inspection |
| The Cooper School | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) | No overall grade (Feb 2025, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Requires improvement |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costcutter OX26 5DQ | Retailers - other | 290 m | 5 Very good | 6 Mar 2025 |
| The Bull Inn OX26 5DQ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 400 m (0.2 miles) | 5 Very good | 5 Feb 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3 |
| Other crime | 2 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2 |
| Burglary | 1 |
| Public order | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near The Glades (5); On or near The Spinney (2); On or near Sherwood Close (2).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 11% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 77% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 46% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 0% | 1% |
| Social rented | 13% | 17% |
| Private rented | 11% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 65% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 2% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 28% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 35% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 57% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | under 1% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 2% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 5% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 52% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 14% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 29% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 11% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 9% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 97% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | under 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 8 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Nothing new since the change feed started on 30 October 2026. New sales and energy certificates, and hygiene ratings, school inspections and flood figures nearby, will be listed here as the sources update.
Postcodes on this street
Nearby streets
The Spinney · Sherwood Close · The Glades · Skinner Road · The Poplars · Ancil Avenue · Sycamore Road
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.