PLANS for a 700-home development between Carterton and Brize Norton could engulf the village, residents fear.

Bloor Homes and Oxford college Christ Church, which owns the land, are seeking outline planning permission from West Oxfordshire District Council.

But Brize Norton residents fear the development may engulf the village.

Action group committee member Clive Homer said they also had concerns about flood management and traffic.

He said: “The land provides a buffer between Carterton and Brize Norton, if it is built the town will swallow us up.

“It will also increase traffic on the A40, which is bad enough.

“I do not believe claims that flooding will be taken care of, or that it will create jobs. Brize Norton is an independently spirited village and we will do anything we can to get planners to reject these plans.”

Roger Crapper, chairman of Carterton Town Council’s planning committee, said he thought the plans were likely to go ahead.

He said: “We are under pressure to provide more homes and it is not a case of saying build on the west instead of the east, because even if we do one the others will follow.

“We sympathise with people in Brize Norton and have indicated that to the district council.

“But as a young town we are under-resourced and want to expand what we have to offer – the only way we can do that is with more people.

“We have to build outwards, because we have used most of our infill space, but there should be a sensible gap between Carterton and the village.

“If that is done in a controlled way we are all for it and will work constructively with the developers.

He added: “We can only make observations. In the end it is up to them (district council), but we hope they take those views on board. Brize Norton is subject to flooding and we want run-off from rain to be suitably dealt with.

“We try to live in as friendly way as possible with the villages, so things like that are particularly important.”

Bloor Homes managing director Steve Roberts said that the flooding risks would be dealt with by the construction of a system of “water storage ponds”.

He said: “Our new measures will alleviate future flood risks and contribute towards solving existing flood risks in Brize Norton.”

He added that Bloor would fund an increase in the frequency of the S2 bus service between Carterton, Witney and Oxford. 

The company said that the majority of respondents to its public consultation felt that the development was a “logical extension” of the town. 

“Our vision is for a high-quality place where people want to live,” said Mr Roberts.  “It will not just be about new homes, but a place that provides opportunities.”

West Oxfordshire District Council is expected to make a final decision on the plans by April 17.