COUNCILLORS are expected to formally adopt a crucial planning document that will see almost 16,000 houses built in the district up to 2031.

West Oxfordshire District Council's Local Plan was accepted by the Government Planning Inspectorate last month and will be presented to councillors at the council offices at 2pm on Thursday.

The Local Plan sets out how the district can achieve economic growth and meet its target of 15,950 new homes between 2011 and 2031.

It will identify sites the council believes are best suited to new housing and accompanying infrastructure, while protecting against speculative and inappropriate developments.

District council leader James Mills previously said: “Quite a few developments in West Oxfordshire in the last couple of years have been put forward as speculative developments, not local plan led.

“This means when someone puts in an application we can look at the plans based on local reasoning.

“It helps the district council give the greatest benefit to local communities where the housing is built.

“We need more homes but they must be in the right place with appropriate community facilities.

“Having a local plan in place puts us in the best possible to position to achieve this.”

Developments in Witney, Hanborough and Eynsham are included, with Eynsham residents fiercely criticising plans which would see 2,750 homes built across two developments near the village.