A PLAN to agree millions in much-needed infrastructure funds for the Oxford North housing project is likely to get the go-ahead.

The planned urban district, previously known as Northern Gateway, would create 4,500 new jobs and 480 homes, built on land between the Wolvercote roundabout, the A34 and the Pear Tree roundabout.

Infrastructure for the scheme, including roads, landscape and drainage, is expected to cost about £105m. Senior city councillors are likely to agree to a fraction of that required money being allocated next week.

It is anticipated the authority will use £10m provisionally allocated by Government agency Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF).

Another £8.85m is expected from developers’ contributions to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) once work on the Oxford North development starts.

However, the project has not yet been given planning permission, with a decision due to be made by the city council in the next few months.

In June, Thomas White Oxford, working on behalf of St John’s College, said it would spend £30m on building and improving roads.

City council papers state: “The risk of not securing and investing these funds may have consequences for the implementation of the council’s adopted development plan strategies for Oxford.

“Although the situation is complicated because of the overlapping and contingent processes involved, the council has recognised the infrastructure challenges incumbent in delivering the strategic allocation.”

The £10m HIF funding needs to be allocated by the end of the year and used by the end of March 2021. Of that, £4.3m is set to be spent building roads and another £3.3m on utilities distribution. Another £1.8m would be spent on surface water work and £600,000 on utilities reinforcement.

HIF funding could also provide money for the Didcot Garden Town and the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Garden Village, near Eynsham, if bids are successful.

Other work around North Oxford is set to improve connectivity around the new site, which could include offices, an 80-bedroom hotel, shops and vast green spaces.

Nearly six miles of cycle paths could connect it to the city centre and Oxford Parkway station.

The Government’s Local Growth Fund has provided £5.9m for work around the development. That funding is set to be used for bus lane improvements and adding capacity for the A40 corridor.

Another £17.8m county council-led scheme improved the A40 at Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts.

Oxford City Council’s executive board will be asked to allocate the CIL and HIF funds next Tuesday.