A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 22,800 homes in Cherwell by 2031 is to be vetted by a planning inspector tomorrow.

Cherwell District Council has put forward the document after its first Local Plan was thrown out in June for not matching housing need figures outlined in a Goverment report.

But the revised figure – which adds 6,050 homes – has been fiercely criticised by countryside campaigners, because it will open up sections of the Green Belt to development.

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Cherwell executive member for planning Michael Gibbard said: “Our officers have worked incredibly hard over the past six months to meet the housing targets which were identified.

“Although the principles and strategy remain the same, the draft plan will be significantly different from what [was seen] in June.

“In meeting these targets we are confident the plan will be approved to give Cherwell a clear plan to guide future development and provide a robust defence against future, sporadic housing developments.”

Councils across Oxfordshire were left reeling after the release of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), which claimed 100,000 extra homes were needed by 2031.

Despite this, Cherwell District Council decided to press ahead with submitting a draft Local Plan which did not accomodate the SHMA figures.

It was considered in June by Government planning inspector Nigel Payne, but he told the authority its housing target of 16,750 homes by 2031 was too low.

The hearing was monitored closely by other councils, with Vale of the White Horse District Council opting to meet the SHMA target in full afterwards.

But West Oxfordshire District Council has still opposed the study and said it would build 9,450 homes by 2029, or 525 homes a year.

That is less than the 660 a year the SHMA said was required.

In Cherwell, the council has said in its new Local Plan that it would build 7,319 homes in Banbury; 10,129 homes in Bicester and 5,392 in Kidlington and rural areas.

An additional 1,600 homes have been proposed at the former site of RAF Upper Heyford. A further 3,000 are to be built beyond 2031.

Tomorrow planning inspector Mr Payne will examine the new plan in a hearing at the council’s offices in Bodicote House, Bodicote, at 9.45am.

He will also hear from neighbouring authorities such as Oxford City Council, English Nature and parish councils.

CPRE director Helen Marshall said: “Cherwell District Council is presenting the housing numbers as a done deal, but the inspector has a duty to listen to our arguments.

“CPRE believes these figures are unrealistic and over-inflated.

“They are not based on meeting local need, but on an aspirational growth strategy that has not been subject to any public consultation.”

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