Swallow Close Bicester, Cherwell
30 addresses across 2 postcodes (OX26), about 140 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 6801408.
- Sales: 71 recorded sales since 1995; in 2025 the median was £531,000 across 1 sale.
- Energy: 19 homes have an energy certificate (C: 4, D: 14, E: 1).
- Flood: 14 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 E; 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 830 m (0.5 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden is about 190 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 6.9 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.8 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: It is about 65 m above sea level.
- Noise: 3 of its 30 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Alchester Medical Group, about 90 m away, with 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile).
- People: About 650 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 74% of households owned their home and 44% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | £531,000 | £531,000 | £531,000 |
| 2022 | 2 | £434,650 | £419,300 | £450,000 |
| 2021 | 2 | £422,500 | £410,000 | £435,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | £400,000 | £400,000 | £400,000 |
| 2017 | 1 | £375,000 | £375,000 | £375,000 |
| 2015 | 2 | £440,000 | £345,000 | £535,000 |
| 2014 | 1 | £295,000 | £295,000 | £295,000 |
| 2013 | 2 | £330,000 | £330,000 | £330,000 |
| 2011 | 3 | £295,000 | £288,000 | £311,000 |
| 2010 | 1 | £250,000 | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 2009 | 2 | £250,000 | £225,000 | £275,000 |
| 2008 | 2 | £260,750 | £232,500 | £289,000 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2025 | 6 OX26 6YL | Detached | £531,000 | |
| 30 May 2022 | 15 OX26 6YL | Detached | £450,000 | |
| 15 Feb 2022 | 10 OX26 6YL | Detached | £419,300 | |
| 7 Sep 2021 | 8 OX26 6YL | Detached | £410,000 | |
| 5 Mar 2021 | 4 OX26 6YL | Detached | £435,000 | |
| 27 Jun 2019 | 20 OX26 6YL | Detached | £400,000 | |
| 30 Nov 2017 | 30 OX26 6YL | Detached | £375,000 | |
| 31 Jul 2015 | 26 OX26 6YL | Detached | £535,000 | |
| 13 Apr 2015 | 30 OX26 6YL | Detached | £345,000 | |
| 7 Mar 2014 | 1 OX26 6YL | Detached | £295,000 | |
| 6 Nov 2013 | 4 OX26 6YL | Detached | £330,000 | |
| 9 Aug 2013 | 11 OX26 6YL | Detached | £330,000 | |
| 1 Nov 2011 | 9 OX26 6YL | Detached | £311,000 | |
| 21 Oct 2011 | 16 OX26 6YL | Detached | £295,000 | |
| 17 Oct 2011 | 17 OX26 6YL | Detached | £288,000 | |
| 12 Mar 2010 | 30 OX26 6YL | Detached | £250,000 | |
| 18 Dec 2009 | 14 OX26 6YL | Detached | £275,000 | |
| 23 Feb 2009 | 21 OX26 6YL | Detached | £225,000 | |
| 24 Oct 2008 | 21 OX26 6YL | Detached | £232,500 | |
| 26 Sep 2008 | 4 OX26 6YL | Terraced | £289,000 | |
| 26 Oct 2007 | 5 OX26 6YL | Detached | £273,000 | |
| 12 Jun 2007 | 11 OX26 6YL | Detached | £285,000 | |
| 8 Jun 2007 | 6 OX26 6YL | Detached | £285,000 | |
| 27 Mar 2007 | 22 OX26 6YL | Detached | £297,500 | |
| 22 Sep 2006 | 23 OX26 6YL | Semi-detached | £248,500 | |
| 24 Jul 2006 | 30 OX26 6YL | Detached | £240,000 | |
| 21 Jul 2006 | 17 OX26 6YL | Detached | £277,500 | |
| 5 Jun 2006 | 22 OX26 6YL | Detached | £273,000 | |
| 23 Jan 2006 | 25 OX26 6YL | Detached | £235,000 | |
| 14 Dec 2005 | 24 OX26 6YL | Detached | £279,950 | |
| 9 Dec 2005 | 4 OX26 6YL | Terraced | £276,000 | |
| 16 Sep 2005 | 7 OX26 6YL | Detached | £226,700 | |
| 26 May 2005 | 8 OX26 6YL | Detached | £217,000 | |
| 22 Apr 2005 | 14 OX26 6YL | Detached | £242,000 | |
| 10 May 2004 | 14 OX26 6YL | Detached | £233,000 | |
| 29 Apr 2004 | 16 OX26 6YL | Detached | £220,000 | |
| 17 Apr 2003 | 12 OX26 6YL | Semi-detached | £198,000 | |
| 14 Feb 2003 | 3 OX26 6YL | Detached | £192,000 | |
| 20 Nov 2002 | 12 OX26 6YL | Semi-detached | £188,000 | |
| 11 Sep 2002 | 28 OX26 6YL | Detached | £182,000 | |
| 24 Apr 2002 | 7 OX26 6YL | Detached | £179,000 | |
| 15 Mar 2002 | 5 OX26 6YL | Detached | £170,000 | |
| 3 Aug 2001 | 14 OX26 6YL | Detached | £169,950 | |
| 29 Jun 2001 | 6 OX26 6YL | Detached | £162,000 | |
| 7 Jun 2001 | 20 OX26 6YL | Detached | £181,000 | |
| 25 May 2001 | 18 OX26 6YL | Detached | £156,000 | |
| 23 Mar 2001 | 13 OX26 6YL | Semi-detached | £144,000 | |
| 22 Dec 2000 | 16 OX26 6YL | Detached | £161,500 | |
| 30 Jun 2000 | 4 OX26 6YL | Terraced | £177,000 | |
| 26 May 2000 | 24 OX26 6YL | Detached | £149,000 |
Energy performance certificates
19 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 105 m². Most common: House, detached (19). Built: 1991-1995 (14); 1996-2002 (4); 1983-1990 (1). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (14); rented (private) (2).
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 E (37% of about 540 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)
- Block C Postal addresses 13 to 36 Roberts Drive Ambrosden OX25 2AW, permissioned (760 m (0.5 miles))
- McKay Trading Estate, Station Approach, Bicester, not permissioned (910 m (0.6 miles))
- 20-26 Graven Hill Road Ambrosden Bicester OX25 2BF, permissioned (920 m (0.6 miles))
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 30 September 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 7 addresses are in areas at high risk, 7 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 6YL | not in 2 or 3 | 4 / 2 / 3 | unlikely |
| OX26 6YG | not in 2 or 3 | 3 / 5 / 11 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's addresses are about 65 m above sea level.
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OX26 6YG | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| OX26 6YL | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Bicester Village 1.9 million journeys in 2024–25 | 830 m (0.5 miles) |
| Bicester North 823,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 1.7 km (1 mile) | |
| Islip 39,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 10.1 km (6.2 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 6 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 10 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Langford Medical Practice Langford Village | 100 m |
| Car parks | Bicester Park and Ride | 2.3 km (1.5 miles) |
| EV charging points | PoGo Charge | 2.5 km (1.6 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 53 km (33 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Alchester Medical Group | 90 m |
| Pharmacies | 4 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Jardines Pharmacy | 90 m |
| NHS dentists | 6 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Causeway Dental Practice | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) |
| Hospital | Bicester Community Hospital | 1.5 km (1 mile) |
| Police station | Waddesdon Police Station | 7.9 km (4.9 miles) |
| Cash machines | Cashpoint® 9 Sheep Street Lloyds Bank | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 15 ha | 190 m |
| Play area | 17 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 1,080 m² | 330 m |
| Playing field | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 2.1 ha | 390 m |
| Allotments | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Bicester Allotments 6,750 m² | 720 m (0.4 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 2 parks and gardens, 17 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Wretchwick deserted medieval settlement, a scheduled monument, 390 m south-east. 6 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles).
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Wretchwick deserted medieval settlement | Scheduled monument | 390 m south-east |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Graven Hill | Hill | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) south-west |
| Gravenhill Wood | Wood | 1.6 km (1 mile) south-west |
| Blackthorn Hill | Hill | 2 km (1.3 miles) south-east |
| Foxey Leys Copse | Wood | 2.2 km (1.3 miles) west |
| Longlands Spinney | Wood | 3 km (1.9 miles) north |
| Weir Pond | Lake or reservoir | 3.1 km (1.9 miles) south-east |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 6.9 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.8 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 11.5 | 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 | 3 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 27 | 30 |
3 of the street's 30 addresses are 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langford Village Community Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 120 m | No published inspection |
| Graven Hill Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | No published inspection |
| Longfields Primary and Nursery School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.3 km (0.8 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 |
| Launton Church of England Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | Requires improvement (Feb 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bicester Roman Catholic | Primary | 4–11 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | No published inspection |
| Brookside Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) | No overall grade (Mar 2025, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good |
| The Bicester School | Secondary | 11–18 | 2 km (1.2 miles) | Good (Mar 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| The Cooper School | Secondary | 11–18 | 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| belle’s bakes OX26 6YL | Other catering premises | 40 m | 5 Very good | 27 Jul 2026 |
| Tesco Express OX26 6XX | Retailers - other | 80 m | 5 Very good | 25 Feb 2015 |
| The Nightingale OX26 6XX | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 5 Very good | 12 Feb 2025 |
| Cleverchefs Catering Ltd OX26 6SX | School/college/university | 90 m | 4 Good | 24 Oct 2025 |
| Sun Wah OX26 6XX | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 90 m | 5 Very good | 28 Oct 2026 |
| FLTR OX26 6XX | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 m | 5 Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Kidz Zone Club OX26 6SX | Other catering premises | 130 m | 5 Very good | 1 May 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 17 |
| Other theft | 7 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 3 |
| Other crime | 3 |
| Shoplifting | 2 |
| Public order | 2 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1 |
| Drugs | 1 |
| Vehicle crime | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Partridge Chase (7); On or near Avocet Way (6); On or near Peregrine Way (5); On or near Swallow Close (4); On or near Falcon Mead (4).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 20% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 8% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 74% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 25% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | under 1% | 1% |
| Social rented | under 1% | 17% |
| Private rented | 25% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 77% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 3% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 11% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | under 1% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 38% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 47% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 2% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 3% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 11% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 49% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 12% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 44% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 6% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 4% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 94% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | under 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 10 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
- Food hygiene ratings Sun Wah (takeaway/sandwich shop, OX26 6XX) re-inspected, still 5 Very good (rated 28 October 2026) found 31 October 2026
Postcodes on this street
Nearby streets
Peregrine Way · Merlin Way · Ravencroft · Avocet Way · Kingfisher Way · Falcon Mead · Hawksmead · Partridge Chase · Osprey Close · Turnstone Green · Sandpiper Close · Heron Drive
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.