THE COUNTY'S Wildlife Trust has become 'very concerned' over the proposed £3bn Oxford to Cambridge expressway and 1 million new homes.

The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust has called a debate with local authority leaders and urged Highways England to carry out a environmental assessment before choosing one of three potential routes for the road in July.

The Government wants one million new homes built along the Oxford to Cambridge corridor by 2050.

Director of external affairs at the trust, Tom Beckett, said: "Three proposed routes have been published; but arrows on a schematic map do not show which village greens, meadows, woodlands and rivers will be impacted by a new dual carriageway with all its associated access roads, roundabouts and bridges.

"Each route has the potential to have devastating impacts on the natural environment and nationally-important wildlife."

The debate at St Edburg's Church in Bicester later this month will also discuss how to make sure wildlife is protected amid plans for 100,000 new homes in the county by 2031.

Mr Beckett said: "There is broad agreement across the political spectrum that we need new homes, especially affordable homes.

"The question is where and how they should be built."

"The Wildlife Trust believe that the natural environment and wildlife can be incorporated within new developments to enhance the aesthetic of our surroundings, improve our quality of life, as well as our resilience to a changing climate, but in the first instance we must select the right places to develop."

But members of North Oxford Golf Club, whose course is under threat from housing, said wildlife was already being neglected by planners.

Chris Pack, of the campaign group Greenway Oxon, said: "As well as a large number of bird species the golf course provides a habitat for a range of mammals, such as rabbits, foxes, deer, squirrels weasels stoats and muntjac.

"The pond is a haven for insects, fish and newts.

"So why are planners intent on destroying all of this - the golf club occupies an important and beautiful area of Green Belt between Oxford and Kidlington, it is an area with thriving nature and natural beauty that has been in existence for 110 years."