How we helped Dorchester Living tell the Heyford Park story and build a reputation for sustainable, community-led regeneration
Once home to RAF Upper Heyford, Heyford Park is being transformed by one of Oxfordshire’s most significant regeneration projects, with 9,000 new homes, new transport links, community facilities and extensive open space. Ahead of its masterplan submission, Dorchester Living appointed us in March 2025 to help drive forward their vision for Heyford Park and build support for the masterplan.
Our approach
A targeted and proactive PR programme across national, property, planning, construction and regional press to tell the story of Heyford Park and build Dorchester Living’s reputation as a responsible community builder.
Keep the development front of mind – with consistent media coverage, generated through a proactive press office, and press releases tied to key milestones.
Make an impact with the masterplan submission – with proactive pitching, one-to-one journalist interviews and a dedicated press day in Oxfordshire to give journalists direct access to the site and a helicopter tour with the CEO.
Position Dorchester Living as a responsible, community-led developer – with positive news stories, thought leadership and broadcast interviews, alongside crisis communications support, handling incoming press enquiries and establishing a charity partnership with Homeless Oxford.
Place Dorchester Living at the heart of the national conversation on brownfield regeneration – by raising the CEO’s profile through comments, podcasts, profiles, panels and speaking opportunities at events including the Labour Party Conference fringe and UKREiiF 2026.
The results
In the nine months between our appointment in March and the end of 2025, we established Heyford Park as a development worth watching, with strong journalist engagement, significant coverage around the masterplan and a growing presence in the national conversation on regeneration.
Nine journalists attended the dedicated press day in Oxfordshire.
Ten one-to-one interviews arranged with key national, regional and trade titles, and broadcast interviews secured on ITV News, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Oxford.
126 pieces of media coverage, including 48 pieces around the masterplan announcement alone.
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“We appointed Building Relations because we wanted to leverage relationships at a greater scale, push shared ownership up the agenda and ultimately sell homes.
The world has been tumultuous over the past five years, and it’s been challenging to try and put shared ownership at the forefront. But Building Relations helped us get a lot of coverage on the topic, speak at conferences and grasp opportunities.
They channel our thoughts and give us options. We don’t necessarily do everything they suggest, but we definitely have choice and that gives me what I want as a leader.
The team at BR are genuinely lovely people that you can have honest conversations with. They aren’t just a PR agency, but a partner. Someone who, if you are willing to invest that time and relationship with, will be invested in your business as much as you are.”
Esaiyas Mollallegn Head of Marketing and Sales Operations at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing.
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