THE first phase of one of the biggest housebuilding projects in Oxfordshire has finally begun.

Preparatory work is now taking place at the former RAF Airfield in Grove where 2,500 homes are set to be built.

After decades of discussion, Persimmon Homes Wessex has started working on the Wellington Gate development’s first 191 homes.

Vale of White Horse District Council approved planning permission nearly four years ago, but progress then stalled over landowner negotiations.

The company said ‘ecological and landscape management’ work has now begun and that it ‘hope to commence construction at the start of June'.

Richard Briggs, managing director at Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “We are delighted to begin.

“This is a major development which will also provide substantial community benefits in education, highway and transportation improvements, as well as create allotments, a community sports facility, parks and extensive play areas.

“It’s not just about building homes but creating an entire new community, which ultimately will have a positive impact on the local economy.”

There has long been opposition to the plans from local groups, however.

Grove Parish Council chairman June Stock said: “We will always have outstanding concerns about it because it’s been going for 20 years, but at the moment it’s been going really well. They are talking about putting roads in first, which is encouraging [and] there are meetings going on all the time.

“The developers and Thames Water have been seeing us and explaining what is going on.”

Mrs Stock also said there were plans to open a hub for locals to be able to see and discuss the work.

The first phase of houses will be a variety of one to four-bedroom homes ‘to meet all budgets and lifestyles’.

Mr Briggs added: “We are encouraging customers to register interest so we can keep them up-to-date on developments.”

A spokesman for Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We continue to work with the developer on planning matters and we are expecting the first houses starting to be built towards the end of this year.”

Julie Mabberley, manager of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group for sustainable development, warned there was still ill feeling about the project.

She said: “There were huge arguments against it in the beginning. Residents of Grove voted against it but that had no impact on the council.

“Everybody still doesn’t want it but has basically said there is nothing they can do. Now we want the schools and facilities built. With all the developments around, they’re all relying on that site to give the infrastructure we need.”