CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 750 homes in Wallingford could be slashed by almost half – but campaigners say it is still too many.

South Oxfordshire District Council has proposed slimming down the development – to go on one of three sites – to 400 homes.

But protesters who oppose use of the site known as Option B, at Slade End Farm, south of Wantage Road, said 400 was still too many homes.

The alternative sites around the town under consideration are at Winterbrook (Site E) and north of Wilding Road (Site A).

The higher figure was set by the previous Labour government – but the coalition Government says decisions on how many homes to build will in future be up to councils.

South Oxfordshire could count homes outside main development sites – called windfalls – such as a house divided into flats, towards the total.

The changes would be made to the district council’s core strategy, which sets out what development the council proposes should be permitted up to 2027.

Cabinet member for planning Angie Paterson said the previous policy had frustrated both the council and residents.

The policy change had yet to receive formal Parliamentary approval, she added.

Mrs Paterson said: “We think including windfall sites is a sensible option, since we continue to get a number of these sites every year.”

Imran Lokhon, the councillor for Wallingford North, said: “This is great news for Wallingford. It really gives us an opportunity.”

But he added: “We still have to be cautious, as things are changing all the time.”

Lynda Atkins, the town’s county councillor, said: “People are concerned that if the district council has chopped and changed before, then it will chop and change again.”

The proposal to reduce the number of homes to be built in the town means developer Prupim has now put forward two schemes for the Option B site, which were put on display at the town hall on Monday.

They are one for 600 homes, with 150 retirement homes, and another with 380 houses, plus 100 retirement homes.

Residents living close to the site, who oppose its development, turned out in force to protest against the new proposals.

Steve Teboe, 50, of Wantage Road, said: “I don’t think that anyone objects to new housing – it’s where they’re putting it. They’re not doing it to enhance Wallingford.

“They’re going to put a soulless estate on the edge, without any roads to the town.”

Prupim spokesman Nick Webb said: “We accept that there’s always a level of controversy with new development but throughout the process we have worked very closely with the community.”

He added: “It’s not in the developer’s interests to put forward a site that would not be popular.”

Consultation on the council’s latest development proposals runs until Friday, October 29.

For details of the core area strategy and to comment, see southoxon.gov.uk/ corestrategy