A LANDOWNER has defended his hated plan to build housing on a community green space.

Residents on Brasenose Road, Didcot, are furious over plans to build homes on the triangle that has been used by the community since the 1960s.

Derek Ray purchased the plot at a public auction in 2019 with the intention of building homes for his family.

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Mr Ray, who currently lives in Spain but whose daughter lives in the Didcot area, has now submitted two planning applications for the site.

One is for one two-storey detached house and four terraced three-storey houses, while the other is for three two-storey detached houses.

Residents have strongly objected to both.

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Mr Ray said: "In the objections there are inferences of having paid money to influence the council and its officers.

"This is absolutely untrue and offensive to both parties.

"We have followed all legal protocols and legal procedures as is required by law.

Oxford Mail:

"Our motivations are honourable and reasonable given that the homes are to be for the family and allow us to live closer to our children and grandchildren."

Residents on Brasenose Road are concerned that if the population increases so will their problems with parking.

However, Mr Ray said this would not be the case as he would be building a driveway on the site.

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He also disagreed with claims that the proposed houses would result in the community losing their green space.

He said: “It has been mentioned that the site has some form of recreational benefit to the local community, however, it would clearly not be safe for children to play on the site due to the close proximity of the main road. Due to the lack of fencing it is very dangerous and not suitable for cycling or ball games.

“A short walk away is a fantastic park with great facilities, including a designated play park.

“Further to this, there is also mention that the project would negatively impact on the traffic in the area. The fact is the traffic is caused by parents on the school run. A few homes are not going to affect the status quo.

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Finally Mr Ray said his architect had designed environmentally-friendly houses.

He said: “Our current home is fully off-grid and we are planning to include some of the same integrated technologies in these homes.”

He added: “There is no truth to the allegations that we are ‘greedy developers or landed gentry’.”

See Mr Ray's plans at southoxon.gov.uk using P20/S0365/FUL