A FUTURISTIC ‘science city’ of at least 3,000 homes has been proposed for Oxfordshire.

The development would be next to Culham Science Centre and could feature driverless cars to take people to work, as well as ‘intelligent buildings’ linked to each other digitally.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority is urging South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) to include the scheme in its Local Plan, the blueprint for where development can take place up to 2032.

The council has so far ruled out the proposal over concerns about a lack of existing road infrastructure and because it would mean building on Green Belt land.

Its leaders are instead proposing 3,500 homes at Chalgrove Airfield, despite warnings it will require even more investment in new roads than Culham.

However, the Culham scheme has received enthusiastic backing from senior figures at Oxfordshire County Council, who say the fact the site is next to the science centre and Culham railway station made it an ideal location.

They called on the district council to reconsider and claimed the Culham scheme could be “a huge success story”. Oxfordshire County Council’s acting director for environment and economy, Bev Hindle, told The Oxford Mail: “What is happening at Culham Science Centre is internationally significant. It is also among the best sites in the country for development.

“The Green Belt is a legitimate policy constraint, but if there are exceptional circumstances, councils are allowed to do something exceptional. We think SODC could be missing an opportunity. Its plan at the moment for [Chalgrove] is something that would require infrastructure we could not deliver.”

County council leader Ian Hudspeth added a large enough development at Culham could be vital to funding a new bypass between the A415 and B4015 near Clifton Hampden, as well as the proposed £125m Thames Bridge.

He said: “It may also boost the case for Network Rail to four-track the railway line between Oxford and Didcot.”

The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s vision for development would encompass 500 homes already planned at the Culham No 1 site, as well as land to the west of existing science facilities. This would include 3,000 more homes, community facilities, a primary school and offices. A central part of the proposals is also the use of driverless cars to run on loops between homes and workplaces.

Writing to the district council, the UKAEA said: “If Culham Science Centre is going to fulfil its potential, it is essential housing is located close by and is tailored to the needs of those wishing to work there.”

John Cotton, leader of SODC, said Culham was unlikely to be considered unless funding for the Clifton Hampden bypass, the Thames Bridge and rail schemes were guaranteed. He added: “There is a lot going for it as a site and we would not want to get in the way of exciting proposals. But All of those things would need to line up to offset the harm to the Green Belt.”

“We could be looking at it in 15 years, but I do not think it is deliverable for this Local Plan.”