BMW'S plans to expand into the Green Belt at Cowley have met little opposition.

That may be a surprise in a city like Oxford when green space is under threat, but there are good reasons why this breach should be supported.

The Mini car plant must be allowed to develop if it is to build on the prosperity and prestige it has brought to Oxford.

The land is near the factory, has little aesthetic merit, and will have to be restored to Green Belt status if and when BMW no longer needs it.

There is also a promise to replace the sports amenities that will be lost in any future development.

Planners have done as much as they can to ensure that the balance between employment and the environment is right.

The Mini will not last forever, and BMW will need flexibility to develop new models to keep Cowley in the forefront of the British motor industry.