PLANS for an Oxford Garden City could return as the Vale looks to accommodate 4,000 new homes.

Oxford City Council cannot meet its target for up to 32,000 new homes by 2031 so the districts have been called on to help out.

Vale of White Horse District Council leader Matthew Barber insisted nothing, including proposed plans for a Garden City, had been ruled out as councillors scrutinised proposals to meet the city’s housing need last week.

A Garden City, a method of urban planning that dates back to 1898, is made up of planned, self-contained communities usually surrounded by Green Belt land.

In 2013, Newbury planning consultant Ken Dijksman revealed he was drawing up a plan for a 30,000-home garden city on land between Abingdon, Steventon and East Hanney. And last year planning minister Nick Boles put the idea of a garden city back on the table by suggesting it to Ed Vaizey MP.

The latest incarnation comes as a report looked at locations for the Vale’s share of the city’s housing burden, which identified the area between Oxford and Abingdon as a “good opportunity”.

The area included villages such as Cumnor, Radley, Kennington, Sunningwell, and Kingston Bagpuize.

Mr Barber said: “There is nothing proposed and I know we have been around the houses with the idea of Oxford Garden City but we want to be clear it has not been ruled out.

“There are pros and cons of all the areas and one of the cons of Oxford fringe and Abingdon is building on the Green Belt.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said that neither a piecemeal village approach nor a new settlement would help meet his council’s need.

He said: “In the case of the villages, it doesn’t make sense and it would destroy their character. A single new settlement in the Vale could well meet the housing need of South Oxfordshire. But it is unlikely to be a huge advantage to Oxford City because the increased number of people there would be travelling into the city.”

Councillor Price said the council was undergoing a review of potential sites for development.

He said the council’s position was that developments south of Grenoble Road and by the Water Eaton Park-and-Ride would go some way to meeting their need.

Councillor Edward Blagrove, a scrutiny committee member, favoured the decision to press ahead.

He said: “ I’m in favour of tackling it head on and not burying our heads in the sand about it. The best result would be that Oxford meets its housing need.”

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “We are continuing to encourage other areas to submit their plans for garden cities that will provide affordable homes, good schools, and jobs for the next generation, while at the same time preserving the countryside.”