PLANS for 700 homes in Carterton should be approved but another 1,000 refused, councillors have been told.

A final decision on plans for 700 to the east of the town and 1,000 to the west is expected by West Oxfordshire District Council on Thursday.

Planning officer Phil Shaw recommended development control committee members approved the east plan, from Bloor Homes.

Campaigners fear it would fill in the gap between Carterton and Brize Norton.

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Mr Shaw told the committee in a report: “There are not enough previously developed sites available to meet housing need. Inevitably that will require some development on undeveloped greenfield land.”

The site, owned by Oxford University college Christ Church, is bordered by Carterton Road, Monahan Way, Burford Road and Brize Norton.

It has been earmarked for housing in the council’s draft local plan and would also include a primary school and allotments.

Brize Norton Action Group controversially compared the plan to Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine.

Campaigner Selwyn Shorrock, 74, said: “It’s the first step in becoming one place.

“Miracles do happen but I suspect it’s going to be difficult to go against the recommendations of the planners.”

The plans include 1.5 hectares of employment land but Carterton Town Council called for 10 hectares.

Town mayor Lynn Little has called for an aviation-themed industrial estate to build on links with RAF Brize Norton.

She said: “We believe the majority of land should be for employment because 80 per cent of the town leave for work.

“The biggest problem with Carterton is the road network, which has to be addressed in order to support everything else.”

The west development, across the Shill Brook from Upavon Way, would include shops, a community centre, employment, primary school, sports pitches and a park.

But Mr Shaw said it should be refused as it would be a “substantial intrusion” on the countryside and is not in the draft local plan.

He wrote: “The impact on the local landscape and its failure to integrate with the existing built-up area of Carterton would outweigh the increase in supply of new housing.”

Stop Carterton West campaigner Andrew Garbutt, of Kenn’s Farm in the middle of the site, said it would be too far from the town.

He added: “You’re looking at a massive estate in the most westerly tip of Oxfordshire and the South East. Most of the people living there are going to be going to Oxford and London to work, which will just cause more traffic.”

The district council usually has two planning sub-commitees but will hold a one-off meeting on Thursday at Carterton Community Centre from 2pm.

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