RESIDENTS are determined to continue their fight to prevent “one of the last undeveloped open spaces” in Kennington being built on.

Vale of White Horse District Council threw out a plan for 16 homes off Simpsons Way in November because it did not provide enough affordable units.

Yet developer JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd has now upped this from three to six, 37.5 per cent of the total homes. Councillors had demanded 40 per cent.

Residents in the cul-de-sac say the scheme should still be thrown out because of its impact on traffic and the surrounding area.

Mum-of-three Nicola Orum, of Simpsons Way, said: “We just don’t want that land in use. It has affordable housing but, there is already too many houses around there. The feeling is that it is out of character with the surrounding area. There is also the parking issue.”

Some 14 letters and a 31-signature petition oppose the plan.

Dr Derek Bromhall wrote: “It is “one of the last undeveloped open spaces in this area”.

Council planning officers state in a report that the plan is a “significant improvement” and the 2.5 per cent shortfall is “too slight to justify refusal.”

It said the case is “strengthened” by the lack of land for affordable housing.

The district council’s development control committee will be asked to make a decision on the application at a public meeting on Wednesday at 6.30pm at the Guildhall, Abingdon.