Traffic on the key road link between West Oxfordshire and Oxford could be slowed down by a 900-home plan for Barton, councillors fear.

West Oxfordshire District Council is concerned about the potential impact of the Barton West proposals on the A40.

It wants Oxford City Council, which will decide on the plans, to reassess the scheme, which also includes a hotel, primary school and shops.

The development would be off the A40 ring road north-east of the city, about four miles from where the eastbound A40 reaches Oxford.

West Oxfordshire’ s head of planning and sustainable communities, Natalie Blaken, said the development could potentially slow or restrict access to key markets and destinations by adding to the existing congestion on the A40.

The city council must “carefully consider any potential impact on the ability of the A40 and the junctions to absorb the additional traffic,” she said.

And money must be given to any required road changes from the council and housing developer Grosvenor, which is behind the scheme, before planning permission is given, she added.

She said it was not credible to suggest that the development would not have an effect.

Despite reservations, however, she welcomed the scheme as it could cut the need for people to commute to and from the city.

But Oxford City Council’s executive member for city development, Colin Cook, said: “Many of those problems will be addressed as part of the application.”

Eynsham and Cassington district councillor Edward James welcomed the housing, but said: “The knock-on effect of extra congestion will slow down traffic to West Oxfordshire and that isn’t going to help. We should all be working together to improve the A40.”