TWO major developments will see an influx of more than 2,000 homes coming to Didcot.

On Wednesday night both an 1,880 home site and a business hub with 400 homes were given outline permission by two district councils.

Mayor of Didcot Town Council, Steve Connel, said he could see the potential of the site north east to Didcot where the majority of the new homes will be built.

He said: "I think it is a great idea because I know Didcot has to take on housing in a large number to protect the villages of South Oxfordshire.

"If we do not take them on then the smaller villages would have to take a far higher share of housing and that is nor fair for them to lose their identity.

"I am excited about the quality of the site, I think it has got great potential."

The scheme also includes two new primary schools, a secondary school, a community hub and new sports facilities.

During the meeting, South Oxfordshire district councillors were told that only 25 per cent, 470 of the homes, will be affordable.

Although Mr Connel said it was better to have at least some affordable than none at all, county councillor Nick Hards said he had great "concerns".

He said: "A lot of people say they are in rented accommodation because they cannot afford to buy anything in Didcot.

"And the problem will only get worse if we do not make these developers adhere to securing 40 per cent of affordable housing in their development."

On the same night a further 400 homes were given outline permission as part of the application to redevelop land at the former Didcot A Power Station to create a mixed hub of businesses, warehouses, offices and retail.

The redevelopment -which is separate to the site of ongoing police investigation to find the missing demolition workers after part of the boiler house collapsed in February - will see 110,000 sqm of business and warehouse space, 25,000 sqm of industrial and office space, 13,000 sqm of retail space, including a 1,500 sqm convenience store, and 150 bed hotel.

Developer, Clowes Developments Ltd will contribute £2 million to the Science Bridge that will take traffic over the Milton Road and into Didcot.

Mr Connel said he was pleased with the number of jobs the site would bring but felt it was inappropriate to continue with the plans while Chris Huxtable, 34 from Swansea, Ken Cresswell, 57, and John Shaw, 61 from Rotherham remained missing.

He said: "I would have preferred for them to have waited a bit."

The Oxford Mail approached the developer's agent for permission for use of the images and a comment but after we declined to send them a copy of the story before going to print we were told we would not get a comment or have permission to use the pictures.

The application has yet to go before South Oxfordshire District Council, as 9.5 hectares of the site is land in that district.