A HOUSEBUILDER has dismissed rumours it plans to build 300 homes in a south Oxfordshire village – insisted it only plans to construct half that many.

Architects firm West Waddy ADP, acting on behalf of the landowner, said it aims to submit plans for up to 150 homes in Benson, near Wallingford, to South Oxfordshire District Council before the end of the month.

Hundreds of members of the Keep Benson a Village campaign group, which is fighting expansion of the village, fear the plans are for 300 homes – even stating the fact on its website savebenson.com.

John Ashton, a spokesman for West Waddy ADP, said: “I am puzzled as to why local residents are saying 300 homes.”

Previously, Mr Ashton said 50 to 150 homes were proposed in total, split over two sites – one off Littleworth Road and the other off Watlington Road.

He told the Oxford Mail: “This statement is still the true position, and we will be looking to discuss further with the council the actual number of dwellings that will form part of the application submissions.”

Bill Nimmo, of Littleworth Road, is a member of the campaign group.

He said even building 150 homes would alter the character of the village, destroy ancient boundaries, increase traffic and put pressure on existing services.

He said: “They were not clear in their original exhibition what they wanted to do, or how many houses they wanted to build.

“We came away thinking it was 150 homes on each site.

“If they had said exactly what the number was, there would not be any confusion.

“With it being so close to a planning application going in, we think they should have clearly said what their intention was.”

He added: “Development will make the village bigger but not better.

“The developers are referring to it as a town already in all their literature.”

Referring to the remarks, Mr Ashton said: “The Government has recently published the South East Plan, which details the number of houses to be provided throughout the South East Region.

“Within this document, the Government describes settlements with a population in excess of 3,500 as a small town.

“Benson has a population in excess of 3,500.

“It is the Government and not ourselves, who describe Benson as a small town.”