Cherwell (district)

For other uses, see Cherwell (disambiguation).

Cherwell (/ˈtʃɑːrwɛl/ CHAR-wel or /ˈtʃɜːrwɛl/ CHUR-wel)^[2][3] is a local government district in northern Oxfordshire, England. The district was created in 1974 and takes its name from the River Cherwell, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames at Oxford. Towns in Cherwell include Banbury and Bicester. Kidlington is a contender for largest village in England.

Cherwell Cherwell District
Non-metropolitan district
The cross in Banbury, the district's administrative centre
Coat of arms
Cherwell shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates: 51.95°N 1.25°W / 51.95; -1.25
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South East England
Non-metropolitan county	Oxfordshire
Status	Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ	Bodicote
Incorporated	1 April 1974
Government
• Type	Non-metropolitan district council
• Body	Cherwell District Council
• Leadership	Leader & Cabinet (No overall control)
• MPs	Sean Woodcock Calum Miller
Area
• Total	227.3 sq mi (588.8 km2)
• Rank	62nd (of 296)
Population  (2022)
• Total	164,155
• Rank	125th (of 296)
• Density	720/sq mi (280/km2)
Ethnicity (2021) [1]
• Ethnic groups	List 88.1% White 6% Asian 2.9% Mixed 1.8% Black 1.3% other
Religion (2021) [1]
• Religion	List 50.3% Christianity 38.1% no religion 6.1% not stated 3.2% Islam 0.8% Hinduism 0.6% Buddhism 0.5% other 0.4% Sikhism 0.1% Judaism
Time zone	UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code	38UB (ONS) E07000177 (GSS)
OS grid reference	SP5153928258

History

Cherwell district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:^[4]

• Banbury Municipal Borough
• Banbury Rural District
• Bicester Urban District
• Ploughley Rural District

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.^[5]

Geography

The northern half of the Cherwell district consists mainly of gently rolling hills going down towards the River Cherwell, but the southern half of the district around Bicester is much flatter. The north-west of the district lies at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.

Governance

Cherwell District Council
Type
Type	Non-metropolitan district council
Leadership
Chair	Chukwudi Okeke, Labour since 23 May 2024[6]
Leader	David Hingley, Liberal Democrats since 22 May 2024
Chief Executive	Gordon Stewart since 2024[7]
Structure
Seats	48 councillors
Political groups	Administration (22)   Liberal Democrats (17)   Green Party (4)   Independent (1) Opposition (26)   Labour (13)   Conservative (11)   Independent (2)
Elections
Last election	2 May 2024
Next election	2026
Meeting place
Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA
Website
www.cherwell.gov.uk

Oxfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the five district councils (including Cherwell District Council) providing district-level services, and Oxfordshire County Council providing county-level services.^[8]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election. Prior to that election, the Conservatives had held a majority of the seats on the council since 2000. Following the 2024 election a minority Liberal Democrat, Green Party and independent administration formed to run the council.^[9]

The first election to the district council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:^[10][11]

Party in control		Years
	No overall control	1974–1976
	Conservative	1976–1995
	No overall control	1995–1996
	Labour	1996–1998
	No overall control	1998–2000
	Conservative	2000–2023
	No overall control	2023–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
George Reynolds[12]		Conservative	3 Sep 2001	Jun 2004
Barry Wood[13][a]		Conservative	23 Jun 2004	17 May 2023
		Conservative	23 May 2023	22 May 2024
David Hingley[16][9]		Liberal Democrats	22 May 2024

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:^[17]

Party		Councillors
	Liberal Democrats	17
	Labour	13
	Conservative	11
	Green	4
	Independent	3
Total		48

One of the independent councillors sits with the Green Party as the 'Green and Independent Alliance Group', which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats. The other two independents sit together as the 'Independent Group'.^[18]

Following a series of negotiations, it was announced by the council that a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and one independent councillor would take charge of the council as a minority administration,^[19] ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.^[20]

The next election is due 7 May 2026.

Premises

The council is based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury, the district's largest town. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council since 1952. Large modern extensions have since been added to the original house.^[21][22] In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.^[23] The move, to 39 Castle Quay, took place on 31 March 2025.^[24]

Elections

Main article: Cherwell District Council elections

Since 2016 the council has comprised 48 councillors elected from 16 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections to the council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the council being chosen at each election. Elections to Oxfordshire County Council are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no district council elections.^[25]

Arms

Coat of arms of Cherwell

Notes Granted 21 March 2016 Crest On a Wreath Or and Vert in front of a Rainbow proper an Oak Tree eradicated Sable leaved Vert and fructed Or, Mantled Vert and Azure lined Or and Argent. Escutcheon Vert a Pale wavy Or thereon a Pale wavy Azure all between two Pallets Argent on each a Pallet Azure. Motto From Cherwell Flows Prosperity [26]

Transport

Bicester, the second-largest settlement in the district

Much of the district is within easy reach of the M40, with junctions 9, 10 and 11 in the district. It also has good rail links with London, Birmingham, Oxford and the South.

Media

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. ^[27] However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. ^[28]

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Oxford, Heart South, Capital Mid-Counties and Greatest Hits Radio.

Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser. ^[29]

Settlements in Cherwell district

Cherwell population pyramid

Kidlington, the third-largest settlement in the district and one of the largest villages in England

• Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Arncott
• Banbury, Barford St. John, Barford St. Michael, Begbroke, Bicester
• Blackthorn
• Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote
• Broughton
• Bucknell, Burdrop
• Charlton-on-Otmoor, Claydon, Cottisford, Cropredy
• Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew
• Epwell
• Fencott, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell
• Godington, Gosford, Great Bourton
• Hampton Poyle, Hanwell, Hardwick, Hethe
• Hook Norton, Horley
• Islip
• Juniper Hill
• Kidlington, Kirtlington
• Launton, Little Bourton, Lower Heyford
• Merton, Middle Aston, Middleton Stoney
• Milcombe, Milton, Mixbury, Mollington, Murcott
• Noke, North Aston, North Newington
• Oddington
• Prescote
• Shenington, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Shutford
• Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, Somerton
• Souldern, South Newington, Steeple Aston, Stoke Lyne, Swalcliffe
• Tadmarton, Thrupp
• Upper Heyford
• Wardington, Water Eaton, Weston-on-the-Green, Wroxton
• Yarnton

See also

• History of Banbury, Oxfordshire