A DEAL to build 100,000 new homes in the county in exchange for £215m of Government cash has been branded 'derisory and damaging' for Oxfordshire.

Campaigners have also said the growth deal - announced by the Chancellor Philip Hammond in November - should be consulted on by the public.

The county's six local authorities are set to sign off the deal in the next two weeks, with Vale of White Horse District Council getting the process under way tomorrow.

But the Campaign to Protect Rural England has written to all district councillors urging them to vote against plans to commit to 'more homes than the county needs.'

The group's Oxfordshire director, Helen Marshall, said: "It's not the right deal for Oxfordshire - it is promising to build around 40 per cent more housing than the county actually needs.

"The promised funding is derisory but also immaterial, as it is fundamentally the wrong deal, committing Oxfordshire to provide housing to support London commuting at the cost of the countryside."

She added: "Also there is no guarantee about what money will be available in the future for things like GP surgeries near new developments.

"With this deal we will be made to build houses we don't need - setting out on that sort of growth projection is something the electorate should be consulted on."

The county's Growth Board agreed the £215m deal last week and the six councils will be asked to give their approval at meetings over the next few weeks.

As part of the deal £150m will be used for transport infrastructure, £60m to guarantee affordable housing and another £5m will be used to aid the planning process.

Chairman of Oxfordshire Growth Board, Bob Price said the deal was in the interests of the people of Oxfordshire and the county's 'array of world-leading businesses'.

He said: "The deal represents a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing Oxfordshire’s housing, infrastructure and economic challenges.

"It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working with Oxfordshire and recognises the critical role the county will play in driving forward the UK economy post-Brexit, attracting global investment."

He added: "It will help us deliver the potential of our world class knowledge economy, while ensuring high quality sustainable development across the County is properly planned and backed with much needed infrastructure improvements."

The Growth Board's spokesman Mish Tullar said schemes to be funded through the deal have been identified in the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy which was subject to consultation.

He added that the 100,000 homes are made up of emerging Local Plans - also consulted on by the public.