PERMISSION has tonight been granted for a plan to build 2,500 homes in Grove, after more than a decade of discussion.

At a special meeting tonight in Grove Parish Church, 12 members of the Vale of White Horse District Council's planning committee voted in favour of the scheme. District councillor for Grove and village resident Sue Marchant abstained.

Grove Parish Council chairman Frank Parnell said: "It was inevitable that decision would be made, the houses were part of the Local Plan. This is going to double the size of Grove and we need the facilities to make sure it is a whole village, not a separate development."