WALLINGFORD Town Council has unanimously objected to a housing plan for the former Habitat site despite residents’ petition in support.

At a meeting, the council said Wallingford’s infrastructure could not cope with the development of 94 houses at Hithercroft industrial estate on top of the 555 already pegged for the town.

The final decision on the Lightwood Property and David Wilson Homes plan will be made by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) in February.

Speaking after the town council meeting on Monday, Mayor Bernard Stone said: “We were already of the view that 555 houses included in the Local Plan was more than the town could cope with in terms of infrastructure.

“Having taken that stance, it is very difficult for the town council to accept more housing.”

He said the council had also opposed the scheme because the SODC Local Plan for development recommended creating two hectares of new employment land in Wallingford.

He added that if the district planning officers did not take those points in account, it would make a “mockery” of their own Local Plan.