“OPPORTUNIST” plans for 70 homes in Hook Norton must be thrown out, Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry will tell an inquiry today.

The Conservative is to urge The Planning Inspectorate to reject an appeal over the plan for Bourne Lane.

Cherwell District Council’s planning committee threw out the Taylor Wimpey plan in August against the advice of planning officers.

It said that the scheme was beyond the built-up limits of the village and was not supported by residents.

The council has yet to agree its local plan on where 14,208 homes should go by 2031, including 189 in six villages, including Hook Norton.

Sir Tony said this had led to “opportunist planning applications with land agents and housebuilders hoping they can get planning applications under the radar”.

Developers have also said estates approved by the council are not being built, supporting the case for other sites.

Sir Tony said: “The district council have no control over the rate at which house builders build houses.”

However, the developer has told the inquiry that the plan “flies in the face” of Government policy.

It says the plan is “in response to the dire housing and affordable housing shortage that is crippling the economy”.

The inquiry will be held at the council’s offices in White Post Road, Bodicote, at 10am.

The public can attend.