THOUSANDS more homes could now be built across West Oxfordshire after councillors voted to open a public consultation on significant changes to an important planning document.

District councillors voted to approve changes to its Local Plan - a document that allocates areas for development across the region - at a meeting yesterday afternoon.

An initial plan was rejected last year after an inspector said not enough homes were included so a new one is needed which now proposes an extra 5,000 extra in Witney, Eynsham, Chipping Norton and Woodstock, bringing the total to be built over the next 15 years to 16,000 in West Oxfordshire.

Concerns were raised about the changes at Wednesday’s full council meeting but ultimately councillors considered having a plan in place far outweighed any negatives.

Leader of the council James Mills said: “No one ever said this would be easy. We are making difficult decisions but that’s what we have to do and what we have been elected to do.

“You have to understand the context within which we work. The Local Plan offers us a way of managing housing development that will come into the district and get things in place for residents in the best possible way.

“I’m not proposing this plan with my eyes closed. I know the implications and the fears of local people. But without the Local Plan the situation would be worse.”

There will now be a period of six weeks consultation before the plan once again comes before councillors for approval.