REBRANDED plans for 3,500 homes south of Oxford have been revealed in the latest twist of a long-running saga.

The so-called 'science village' on Green Belt land off Grenoble Road could be vital in the battle against the city's housing shortage, it is claimed.

It would include a further expansion of Oxford Science Park, as well as a primary school, university training college, sports facilities and a new park and ride.

The proposal has been put forward by Oxford City Council with fellow landowners Magdalen College and Thames Water.

Spokesman Ben Sherreard said: "With the required infrastructure to serve new and existing communities, this will provide a mix of high quality homes and housing choice including affordable homes for sale and rent."

City council leader Bob Price added the scheme would help address 'huge demand' for affordable housing among scientific researchers and families struggling with the cost of living.

He said: "The type of housing that’s going to be built there is related to their needs, for people in their late 20s or early 30s with a partner or a small family."

Gordon Roper, chairman of Blackbird Leys Parish Council, said he supported more housing but doubted whether the scheme would ever happen.

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The 78-year-old said: "They have been talking about it for years. We do need to build more homes but I'm not sure I will ever see it in my lifetime."

In 2015, the city council set aside £300,000 towards planning for the scheme and it has been lobbying with partners for development at Grenoble Road for more than a decade.

But it has long been opposed by planning authority for the land, South Oxfordshire District Council, with leader John Cotton this week warning the latest plans had 'all the problems' of previous proposals – including the location next to a Thames Water sewage plant.

Mr Cotton, pictured below, said: "We will be carefully considering all the options, but the road network there is already close to capacity and the site is right next to a sewage treatment works – which is hardly likely to get less use as a result – as well as electricity pylons.

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"In planning terms, it is not an attractive site and it is also in the Green Belt. So to go forward it would need to be exceptional."

The new Grenoble Road scheme is also likely to face stiff competition from a number of rival sites on the edge of the city.

Other developers are vying for support from South Oxfordshire District Council, which is set to decide where it will earmark land for a large 'strategic' housing site in its next Local Plan.

It has previously said it would favour sites outside of the Green Belt, such as Chalgrove Airfield and land next to junction 7 of the M40, but Mr Cotton said this could position could change if an 'exceptional' scheme emerged.

Other options include land next to the new Barton Park estate, Wick Farm, land near Thornhill park and ride, a 'science city' at Culham – all in the Green Belt.

The first exhibition of the 'science village' plans will be held next Thursday at the Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, from 2pm to 7pm.

Last month a major expansion of the Oxford Science Park, which will include a new 5,700 sqm building, was approved.