SOME of Oxfordshire's most beautiful landscapes are under 'huge' and increasing threat from housing developments, a new report has warned.

Both the Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have this month been listed among the most threatened in the country.

New independent research concluded there has been an 82 per cent increase in new housing given planning permission in England’s 34 AONBs in the past five years, despite the fact national planning policy gives them 'the highest status of protection' from damaging development.

The findings were highlighted in a report published this month by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Although AONBs are nationally protected landscapes, the research shows a five-fold increase since 2012 in the amount of AONB land set to be lost to development.

Among the Oxfordshire threats are some 1,000 homes proposed around Harwell in the North Wessex Downs.

Henry Oliver, director of the North Wessex Downs AONB protection board, said: "This research bears out what we’ve known for some time: that AONBs are coming under unprecedented development pressure.

"Since the National Planning Policy Framework was published in 2012 we have seen a dramatic increase in pressure for major development in and around the North Wessex Downs AONB.

"The full impact cannot be measured yet as some sites are still in the planning stage and where permissions have been given recently the houses are not yet built.

"What is certain is that the natural beauty for which this landscape is officially protected will suffer as a result.

"This research highlights the fact that the protections that should be in place are just not working."

The North Wessex Downs are also under threat from hundreds of homes proposed in Hungerford and Marlborough.

The Cotswolds AONB, meanwhile, have been consistently subject to planning applications in the past five years, including hundreds at Charlbury, Milton under Wychwood and Chipping Norton.

The CPRE said its report showed clear evidence of increasing pressure from developers and local authorities to build new homes in AONBs by exploiting poorly-defined and conflicting national planning policy.

Government policy recommends that 'major developments', including housing schemes, should be refused except in 'exceptional circumstances'.

However, both of these terms are loosely defined, and the government says local authorities should use their judgement on individual cases.

The CPRE report makes a number of recommendations to address the problems highlighted, including a 'robust ministerial statement affirming Government support for protecting AONBs' and encouragement for local planning authorities to set a strong interpretation of national policy as found in national parks.