90-home plan near Wallingford would cause 'traffic increase'

Concerned residents in Shillingford and Warborough said traffic would become “hazardous” if the plans by Welbeck Strategic Land were approved.

The company has submitted an outline planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council to build the homes on farmland near Shillingford Roundabout.

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The planning authority has set a target decision date of February 28.

The homes would be built near Shillingford Roundabout (Image: Google Maps)

Objections have been lodged against the development, which would be called 'Shillingford Gardens', by 11 nearby homeowners as part of a public consultation.

Roger Dewell, who lives in Shillingford, said: “Further development would increase traffic volumes considerably, and no doubt adversely impact road safety and air quality through the village.”

Sandy West, from Warborough, added: “Increased traffic is likely to be hazardous. The character of the two villages will change and become one sprawling extension to Wallingford.

“The land on which the proposed development will stand appears to be useful farmland, currently under cultivation.”

Concerns were also raised about how the new homes would affect the rural character of Warborough.

Sarah Dinnage, who lives in the village, said: “If 90 houses are built on the New Road site, one wonders if it's still Warborough - the land is the only division between us and Benson.

“We might as well all merge as there won’t be any countryside left between us and we lose our identity as do Benson.”

Juliet Lawson, also from Warborough, added: “The rural character of the village would be destroyed by such a large development.

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“There is no infrastructure to support such a large expansion. The land is productive farmland not appropriate for building over.

“Development should be on brownfield sites or renovating existing buildings.

“The traffic increase from construction and the high number of houses would overload the already crowded roads.

“Some houses in the village are over 400 years old and would be damaged by the increase in traffic and pollution. I strongly oppose this application.”

Where the new homes will be built (Image: Carter Jonas)

Another householder David Seymour said: “This proposed build would be on an historic site that held one of the first World Ploughing Championships back in 1956.

“Hopefully, this wild proposal will be rejected so strongly that the developers will not try to issue a revised proposal.”

In a planning document submitted on behalf of Welbeck Strategic Land, planning agents Carter Jonas pointed to benefits of the proposed homes.

These included helping the district to meet its housing need and providing a boost to the local economy.

The document added that any harm was “limited in nature, and clearly would be significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the benefits”.