BUILDING work on a long-awaited village hall has been delayed due to problems getting a temporary electricity supply to the site.

It forms part of a major scheme for Marcham near Abingdon, which was approved in April last year, for 10 houses, three flats, a multi-use games area, three sports pitches, a play area and nursery.

The development will also feature a new village hall, which the community has been without since the Anson Institute closed almost 15 years ago.

But Marcham Community Group revealed in an update via newsletter Marcham and District News last week that developer Thomas Homes had been delayed 'by some weeks' in starting due to issues getting a temporary electricity supply application approved.

The group said it did not know if this would impact the overall completion date for the hall, which is expected to be this summer, adding: "Let's hope this is a one-off frustration and that work will move ahead effectively after this hold-up."

Thomas Homes has been working with local charity the Anson Trust on the development since 2015, which will transform the previous village hall and nearby field at Morland Road.

The building and land are owned by the trust but it was forced to close the community hub in September 2004 due to running out of the funds needed to keep it open.

Since then the trust has been trying to use its remaining assets, the Anson Institute and playing field, to create new facilities for the village.

The trust, created in 1913, warned when the latest scheme was proposed that if it did not go ahead it would be forced to declare bankruptcy.

Despite Vale of White Horse District councillors rejecting an earlier plan for a 51-house estate on the land, the scaled-down plan was approved last year.

Planning officers advised though it did not include any affordable housing, "officers consider this is outweighed by the public benefits of this scheme."

The project received almost 150 largely positive letters from residents alongside a petition in support of the plans with more than 100 signatures when the application was originally submitted.

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday at Marcham Primary School on December 5 at 7.30pm to update residents on the timetable and construction plans.