RESIDENTS have branded plans for nearly 200 homes on the site of Wolvercote’s former paper mill as absurd.

Oxford University wants to sell off the site for housing but first wants to get planning permission for 190 homes there.

A planning application has now been submitted for the site, which will also include employment space, community facilities and public open space.

But there are concerns about the impact of new homes and especially trsffic using the congested Wolvercote roundabout.

Meadow Prospect resident Olivia Thorne said: “There’s really not the infrastructure, nor the space, within this village to sustain such an influx of properties, people or traffic.

“It’s absurd to even consider that there is.”

Home Close resident Amanda Saville said: “Godstow Road is already dangerous for pedestrians, because of rat-runners and people speeding. And the development of the mill site, with its limited access off Godstow Road, will worsen this.”

John Bleach, chairman of the Wolvercote neighbourhood forum, said: “I think the development will have a dramatic effect on traffic.

“With the roundabout traffic, drivers will make a diversion along Mere Road and it will cause a bottleneck by the school.

“The more traffic you have on the road, the more dangerous it is for small children.”

The mill was run by Oxford University Press from 1870 until 1998. In 2004 it was demolished and the university came up with a £40m plan for 200 staff homes on the 17-acre site.

The plans were scaled back to reduce costs and shelved in 2011.

University spokesman Matt Pickles dismissed residents’ concerns and said: “We expect there to be only a minor impact on traffic, especially when compared to traffic when the mill was operational.

“During the morning rush-hour the development will generate just over one additional car per minute (70 cars an hour) travelling towards Wolvercote roundabout.”

He said there was a plan to reduce private car use, including cycle parking, car club facilities and bus routes through the site.

Mr Pickles said the site would not be marketed until outline planning permission was granted, with the sale expected next year.