The proposed sites, between Banbury and Bicester near the M40, could see up to 570,000 square metres of logistics space built across land between the A43 and M40 Junction 10.
The open letter from the Stoke Lyne Action Team, signed by 429 residents from Stoke Lyne and nearby villages, calls on the council to defend its decision at a public inquiry that began on September 22.
The letter says: “We are asking you to speak against the warehouses and stand by the reasons for refusal laid out by the planning committee in January 2026.
A map of the proposed developments (Image: Cherwell District Council)
“Then, in May, the Council leadership walked away from defending your refusal.
“No transparency for us, total surrender to the developers.
“The residents of Stoke Lyne and the surrounding villages will have to defend our countryside at the inquiry alone.
“Stand with us.
“Now, your refusal is on trial.
“Turn your back as well, and the developers will tell the Inspector that even the decisionmakers have given up.
“Our protest will be belittled and cast aside.
“Or, stand with us and show that the January decision was made on substantive planning merits and should be upheld.”
Three appeals have been brought by developers Tritax Symmetry Ardley and Albion Land.
Their applications include office space, an energy centre, HGV parking, internal roads, and other infrastructure.
Some buildings could reach 23 metres in height, with total floor space equivalent to about 80 football pitches.
The developers estimate the site could generate around 5,400 permanent jobs.
A CGI of some of the warehouses (Image: Cherwell District Council)
Nick Barnes, chairman of Stoke Lyne Parish Council, said earlier this year: “Securing jobs in an isolated area five miles from Bicester is no justification, especially as the low-wage and low-skilled and do not align with the high skilled jobs plan Oxford-Cambridge arc.
“Securing a few junction improvements and a cycle lane that hardly anyone will use is no justification.
“This will generate thousands of new car journeys.
“A bit of landscaping that will take at least 15 years to mature is not going to hide these massive structures.
“These are flawed applications, wrong jobs in the wrong locations.”
Cherwell District Council refused the applications on January 21, 2026, but later announced it would not defend the decision at appeal.
A council spokesperson said: “After taking independent professional planning advice, the council concluded there was insufficient evidence to robustly defend the reasons for refusal at appeal and that doing so carried a significant risk of costs being awarded against the council and local taxpayers.”
The inquiry is expected to conclude on October 29, with hearings held in Banbury and Bicester.
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