PLANS for a major new business park and housing development in North Oxford have been sent to the Government for final approval.

Oxford City Council’s Northern Gateway scheme is expected to create thousands of jobs and includes up to 500 homes, offices and a hotel.

It was officially submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on Friday and is expected to be considered in the New Year.

City council leader Bob Price said: “The Northern Gateway development is a rare opportunity to provide significant space within the city for the innovation and knowledge-based sector so important to Oxford’s economy.

“It also offers the opportunity to provide additional new homes and facilities in a thriving new community.”

The formal response of Oxfordshire County Council – the transport authority – has also been made public for the first time.

The county council backed the controversial development but warned it will pose “significant transport issues”.

Locality manager Daniel Round wrote: “Development in this site is constrained by the fact that roads surrounding the area, particularly the A40, A44 and A34, experience significant peak period congestion.

“In addition, there are concerns with local access and environmental issues such as noise and air pollution.”

Opponents have warned the scheme will worsen Oxford’s hard-pressed road network.

Transport measures put forward by the county include more bus links from nearby Peartree Park-and-Ride to the city, a 1,750-space cap on business parking spaces and greater promotion of cycling.

It proposed creating priority bus lanes along the A40 from Eynsham, the A44 from Yarnton and Woodstock Road northbound out of Oxford.

To help divert traffic from the Woodstock Road roundabout, a link road between the A40 and A44 – west of the A34 – has been proposed.

County cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith said: “We are improving the ability of public transport to get around the city.”

Measures to lessen the impact of extra traffic were welcomed by Bus Users Oxford.

But chairman Hugh Jaeger said: “Whatever measures are put in place, they can only ever mitigate the mistake of building the Northern Gateway at all.”