Sir – I write in response to the letter from Mr Brown about new homes for Wantage and Grove. I can confirm 285 homes were completed in Wantage and Grove in the three years to April 2011, of which 189 were affordable. This is a higher number than the 40 per cent planning target, because an affordable housing provider negotiated a bulk purchase of homes intended for market sale at a competitive price.

Affordable housing is allocated on the basis of need with priority given to applicants with a local connection.

In terms of the infrastructure improvements planned to support future housing development, measures include new areas of open space, playing fields, educational facilities and a relief road from Grove to the A417 to bypass central Wantage and help reduce traffic in the town centre.

These development-funded improvements would aim to address the impact from these new developments. The relief road is only viable with developer contributions from both sites. Education has been highlighted as a particular concern, and development of the former Grove airfield site will include a secondary school to serve Grove and at least one additional primary school.

However, that infrastructure can only be funded as part of the development and the planning application has been repeatedly delayed.

In terms of primary schools, the county council is shortly due to decide on a permanent expansion of Charlton Primary part-funded by developer contributions from recent housing. The proposed core strategy site at Crab Hill, north east Wantage, would require a new primary school to serve the new homes, which would also increase overall school capacity for the town.

Roger Cox, Cabinet member for planning, Vale of White Horse District Council