RESIDENTS in a village near Abingdon are examining plans for a major new housing development which would be built on playing fields.

Developer Taylor Wimpey wants to build up to 100 homes and a community pavilion on the village playing fields.

Today and on Saturday, residents will visit Marcham sports and social club to see artist’s impressions of the plans. Taylor Wimpey is proposing three options for the eight acres of green space off Morland Road, owned by charity the Anson Trust.

The firm would build 50 homes on the football pitch, or 50 homes on the cricket pitch, or 100 homes across both sites, which also contain the village hall and a children’s play area.

Parish council chairman David Walton, who was among visitors looking at the plans, said if one of the schemes is approved, Taylor Wimpey has an option to buy about 10 acres of land from a landowner on the edge of the village, off Howard Cornish Road.

Replacement football and cricket pitches would be provided on this site along with a new community pavilion.