Housing development plans take a big step forward (From Oxford Mail)

Housing development plans take a big step forward

7:00am Monday 20th August 2012 in Banbury

plans for more than 1,000 homes between Banbury and Bodicote have taken a step forward.

Developers have advertised for a housebuilder to take on the Bankside scheme for 1,070 homes at farmland off Oxford Road.

Residents fought the plans for more than a decade, fearing it would sever the divide between Banbury and the village.

However, Cherwell District Council backed the site to help meet housing targets and gave planning permission in 2009.

Development did not begin as a series of detailed permissions were needed and the housing industry was hit by the recession.

Now Gallagher Estates and Hallam Land Management is seeking bids by September 20 for the 75-hectare (184-acre) site.

The ‘Longford Park’ development would also include a pub, primary school, office and retail space, place of worship and hall.

Bodicote Parish Council chairman Ron Glynn said: “I can’t see how the Oxford Road is going to take more traffic – it is the busiest road in the town.

“Bodicote would be doubled in size overnight. The village will not get anything out of it at all.”

The news comes amid a row about housing targets, which have seen a flood of controversial developments for villages around Banbury.

Comments are closed on this article.