THE PROPOSED urban extension south of Oxford could be hit by plans to create an eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green.

News that a scheme to build 15,000 homes near the A34 has made it on to the Government's eco-town shortlist has raised new doubts about whether a new settlement south of Grenoble Road should go ahead.

Keith Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, believed that the idea of building 4,000 homes on Green Belt land, near Oxford United's Kassam Stadium, had to be looked at anew in the light of the Weston-on-the-Green "bombshell".

A recent planning inquiry into housing numbers backed the city council's case to expand Oxford on to Green Belt land at Grenoble Road jointly owned by Magdalen College and Thames Water. The scheme has been opposed by County Hall, surrounding villages and the Oxford Preservation Trust.

Mr Mitchell said this week he believed that the idea of two new settlements, one to the north and one to the south of Oxford, would be viewed as excessive, even by those in favour of development on green land.

And he said that the price of building the Weston Otmoor eco-town on 2,000 acres near the A34-M40 junction, could ultimately be the rejection of a Grenoble Road urban extension.

Mr Mitchell said: "If there was any chance of agreement on Weston-on-the Green, part of the deal could be to lop off 4,000 homes at Grenoble Road.

"Fifteen thousand homes to the north of Oxford is a huge increase over the next 20 years. If we thought Weston-on-the-Green was in any way inevitable, part of the negotiations could be negotiating out Grenoble Road."

Mr Mitchell warned that the figures for an eco-town bigger than Bicester "did not stack up". But he said the developer's pledge to invest many millions into an east-west rail link and other transport infrastructure meant the proposal had to be seriously considered.

Patrick Murray, the city council's portfolio holder for improved housing, said: "I do not believe it should be an either-or situation. My group wants to see a review of the Green Belt before any houses are built. But what we are getting is a piecemeal approach.

"I think there are huge problems with Weston Otmoor. And we will have to see if the Government goes ahead with it in the teeth of local opposition. But the chronic housing situation in Oxford is destroying lives. The city council cannot ignore that."

Meanwhile, villagers in Weston-on-the-Green have repeated their calls for the resignation of local Cherwell district councillor Neil Godwin, after it emerged that developers behind the eco-town have an option to buy about 200 acres of Mr Godwin's farmland.

John Mair, a university lecturer who has lived in the village for more than 25 years, said: "I really cannot see how he can continue. You have to ask who he is now representing? There is a clear conflict of interest."

Mr Godwin said: "So far everything that has been done has been Government led. I have to declare an interest. If the issue is discussed I am not allowed to speak or vote."

He admitted the shortlisting had changed the situation and he would be continually reviewing his position on the council.