Izzy Lepone 24 March 2026

CEO urges council to approve £600m theme park plans

CEO urges council to approve £600m theme park plans image
A Puy du Fou amusement park in France. © Gerald Villena / Shutterstock.com.

The CEO of Blenheim Palace has urged a local authority to back proposals for a £600m historical theme park near Bicester.

Dominic Hare, Chief Executive of Blenheim Palace, has written to Cherwell District Council and emphasised the benefits of the opportunity presented by French firm, Puy du Fou.

The proposals were put forward to the council last year and include plans to build a history-themed tourist attraction near the M40. As part of the project, the company would aim to deliver assets such as four period villages, performance spaces, three hotels, and a conference centre.

In his letter, Mr Hare called on the council to approve the proposals. He stated that ‘the economic contribution of a tourism asset of this calibre would be substantial and lasting - through direct employment and skills development, and through the wider supply chain that a destination of this scale will generate across the region.’

However, the proposals have received objections from both Bucknell and Somerton Parish Councils, which have outlined concerns about risks associated with the scheme, including an increase in traffic, negative environmental impacts, and heritage harm.

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