COMPUTER systems expert Aaron Milton-Eldridge is one of the first residents to move into a major new housing development in Didcot.

Mr Milton-Eldridge, 37, and his wife Naphaphorn, 38, completed the contract to buy their three-bedroom Taylor Wimpey home at Great Western Park on Friday.

He moved in at the weekend and is one of four new families now living in Partridge Close, off the A4130, as part of the 3,343-home development.

Mr Milton-Eldridge, who works for the county council, said he was delighted to buy the £227,000 house in the first phase of the new estate, which features 220 homes. He said: “We sold a flat in Wantage to a cash buyer in January for about £150,000 and since then we have been living in Chalgrove at my mother’s house, so it’s great to be able to move into our new home.

“Didcot is a town on the up and the area is very handy for Didcot Parkway rail station so it’s attractive to commuters.

“The house is detached and is very well fitted out and I think it’s going to be a real asset. I know there’s going to be building work in the area for a while but as the site extends that should affect us less and less.”

The 10-year project will see a £60m investment in the area and will span 440 acres.

As part of the investment, the company is pledging £20m for highway improvements.

The development is part of South Oxfordshire District Council’s core strategy, which has proposed where new homes will go over the next 16 years, including a total of almost 9,000 for Didcot.

When complete, the estate will feature recreational facilities, community services, primary and secondary schools, shops, parkland, open spaces and play areas.