Controversial plans for a 3,200-home estate to the west of Didcot are unlikely to be decided until the autumn.

The Great Western Park development, the largest new housing estate in the county, would stretch from the A4130 in the north, as far as the A34 near Harwell to the west, and south to Park Road.

It was first proposed in the late 1990s. Since then, there have been three planning applications and fierce local opposition.

The latest outline plan, submitted in December 2005, looked set to be decided next month, but South Oxfordshire District planners and the developers, Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey, are still at the negotiating table.

They have yet to agree funding of community facilities, schools and road improvements -- as well as the number of affordable homes.

Developers have already lodged an appeal against the council because of the time it has taken to reach a decision.

That appeal has been postponed to allow further discussions, but if no compromise can be found then the matter will rest with a Government planning inspector in November.

SODC's cabinet member for planning, John Cotton, said an improved masterplan for the estate had been drawn up. He added: "We are left with the legal agreements for education, transport, affordable housing, etc. It's about how much cash we can get out of the developers and what we will use it for.

"The council has a shopping list. From our point of view, affordable housing is top of that list."

The outline plan of the estate includes 153 acres of open space, including sports fields, play areas and allotments.

Plans also include three primary schools and a secondary school.

A district centre and two neighbourhood centres could house shopping facilities and healthcare services such as GPs' surgeries, pharmacies and dentists.

Michael Bartlett, of the Don't Dump on Didcot group, said their battle had been lost when it was decided to build to the west of the town. He believed the major issue now was traffic problems. He said: "What we really need is another road to Oxford."

The long-awaited Didcot Arts Centre will not be scaled down -- even if estimated costs exceed the original budget.

The South Oxfordshire District Council project has a budget of £6.5m for the centre, which will include an auditorium for drama, music and dance.

Delays have seen costs rise, but SODC cabinet member Nigel Moor insisted the council had no intention of reducing the original specification.

He said contractor Leadbitter had until tomorrow to submit its final tender and the council would seek to increase the budget, if necessary, in light of those figures.

Mr Moor added: "We have got a business plan we are comfortable with, which relates to the design we have consent for and are budgeting for."

The council, which aims to open the centre early next year, is due to make a decision on the contract next week.