Cherwell ( or ) 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, where the council is based, Bicester and Kidlington.
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: 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.
Abolition Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Oxfordshire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district being split between new Greater Oxford and North Oxfordshire unitary authorities.
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
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.
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 coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and one independent councillor would took charge of the council as a minority administration. Following the 2026 election a similar coalition of the Liberal Democrats and Greens formed to run the council, holding a majority of the council's seats between them.
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: (Put "Cherwell" in search box to see specific results.) Party in controlYears 1974–1976 1976–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 1998–2000 2000–2023 2023–present
Leadership The leaders of the council since 2001 have been: Councillor Party From To George Reynolds 3 Sep 2001 Jun 2004Barry Wood 23 Jun 2004 17 May 2023 23 May 2023 22 May 2024 David Hingley 22 May 2024 12 May 2026 Lesley McLean 20 May 2026
Composition Following the 2026 election,the composition of the council is:
Party Councillors 21 8 8 6 4 1Total 48
The next election is theoretically due in 2027 but the exact nature and timing of the election will be determined by proposed reforms to local government which could involve the creation of a single unitary authority covering the whole of Oxfordshire and under current proposals would involve the abolition of district councils. Text in this article is derived from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
Premises The council is based at 39 Castle Quay in Banbury, the district's largest town. The council's premises comprise some converted former shop units within a shopping centre. The council moved into Castle Quay in 2025.
Prior to 2025, the council was based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council from 1952. Large modern extensions were added to the original house. In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site. The move, to 39 Castle Quay, took place on 31 March 2025.
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.
Arms
Transport
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. However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
Radio stations for the area are Banbury FM, BBC Radio Oxford, Heart South, Capital Mid-Counties and Greatest Hits Radio.
Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser.
Settlements in Cherwell district
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
Notes
References