PLANS for 48 affordable new homes on a disused allotment site have been welcomed by Littlemore residents.

A planning application has been submitted by Oxford City Council for East Minchery Allotments site in Priory Road.

The council now wants to build four one bedroom flats, eight two bedroom flats, four two bedroom houses, 26 three bedroom houses and six four bedroom houses. This is an increase from the 40 new homes originally proposed.

It has also been revealed that there will be a fruit orchard and community growing space or allotments on the site and each house will have a front and back garden.

Parking will be in front of the properties and there will be 102 car parking spaces as well as cycle stores.

City and county councillor Gill Sanders said: “It is a very exciting development.

“It is going to be a lovely place for people to live. There is going to be lots of greenery.

“The council is not just building houses, but building an environment for people to live in.”

Of the affordable housing, she added: “That is just so important. We are so desperate for homes. This is an ideal location.”

Littlemore Parish Council chairman Anne Mogridge said it welcomed the development.

She said: “It is a piece of land not used for many years and this is a good use of it.”

Parish council vice-chairman David Henwood said: “Feedback from residents concerning this application has been positive. There are some issues concerning the level crossing and access around the site.”

Littlemore mum-of-one Ruth Lloyd said: “It is a good idea to have more housing.

“But of course extra housing needs services – buses, doctors surgeries, school spaces where we are already towards our limit.

“We already have to travel to medical facilities.”

The application was submitted following public exhibitions held at Falcon Close in Blackbird Leys and at Littlemore Community Centre in April.

Oxford City Council spokeswoman Eva Oliver said: “The proposed development will make a vital contribution to delivering additional much needed affordable housing in the city. All of the housing would be owned and managed by Oxford City Council.”

The site is bordered by Priory Road, the Oxford Academy and a railway line.

The application is part of the city council’s 2015 Affordable Homes Project.

To view the application and make a comment visit oxford.gov.uk/planning and search for the application 13/01610/CT3