WORK has started on a blueprint of how Kidlington could expand over the next 20 years, including where new homes could be built.

Cherwell District Council (CDC) has commissioned Alan Baxter Consultancy to produce a masterplan outlining where, and what type of development could take place in Kidlington.

The consultants have been asked to look at the role Kidlington plays in the district and surrounding area, and whether the village can take more housing without it impacting on the green belt.

Consultants will meet with organisations including Thames Valley Police, which has its headquarters in the village, and Kidlington Parish Council, and the report is expected to go out for public consultation in September.

David Betts, chairman of Kidlington Parish Council, said: “The parish council has been pushing for this masterplan since last October.

“Finally CDC has appointed someone and we’ve had an initial meeting, but there are a lot of hoops to go through.

“There’s no doubt the parish council wants to influence the outcome as we believe we represent the views of people in Kidlington and we have responded quite extensively to the emerging local plan.

“It’s good news the work is being undertaken. We will talk about whether it’s good news when we see the outcome, and what CDC is prepared to agree.”

The masterplan would be used alongside the council’s local plan, which has set out where 16,750 homes will be built across Bicester, Banbury and surrounding villages up to 2031.

In the current proposal, Kidlington would share a total of 259 new homes with 11 other villages.

The local plan highlighted a lack of affordable, private and social rented homes in Kidlington and, in some areas, a shortage of any new housing coming on to the market.

It is the first time the council has produced a blueprint for development for the village and comes hot on the heels of similar masterplans for both Bicester and Banbury.

The idea is to set out how the village should be developed in the future, its strengths and weaknesses, and create a guide for future planning applications.

Michael Gibbard, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “In recent years there have been a lot of changes introduced or planned for Kidlington’s landscape including the expansion of London Oxford Airport and the new East West Rail line and the masterplan will reflect that.

“This document will consolidate all of the existing and potential future issues affecting Kidlington and enable us to address them accordingly.”

A report will then be submitted by early October and the information will be used to produce a draft masterplan for public consultation.

The final draft of Cherwell’s Local Plan is to be considered by councillors this autumn.