CAMPAIGNERS say a plan to build 49 homes in Marcham is a taste of things to come for villagers across the Vale as a new housing policy is set to come in.

Vale of White Horse District Council wants to relax rules to allow more development in villages to catch up on its housing target set five years ago.

It needs to find space for 800 homes after large developments were delayed, such as the scheme for 2,500 homes earmarked for Grove Airfield.

The council’s proposal could be passed in February despite opposition from residents and environmental campaigners.

Carter Jonas, agents for the landowners, has outlined plans to build the 49 homes on 1.9 hectares at King’s Field in the village near Abingdon.

It has not yet put in a formal planning application but has written to the council expressing an interest in developing the land.

Helen Marshall, of Oxfordshire’s branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said under the new policy there was a risk development could occur ‘without consideration to infrastructure and the countryside’.

She said: “We would see this very much as a sign of things to come. We are aware of a number of sites and considerations by developers across the Vale.”

She would not reveal the sites but added: “This housing policy of trying to push through development really quickly is a real concern.”

Marcham Parish Council member Malcolm Denton said: “The issue that concerns villagers is the proposed relaxing of planning rules will potentially allow pockets of land beyond the natural village envelope to be developed without due consideration to the existing facilities in a village.”

He added: “Parish councils have been consulted about these proposed plans and are very concerned that what has proven to be a robust planning system is being relaxed for no good purpose.

“Oxfordshire already has many housing developments that are stalling because people simply cannot raise mortgages to purchase these properties and therefore why compound the issue by building even more unaffordable homes?”

But district council leader Matthew Barber moved to reassure residents.

He said: “Yes, it is a change of policy but we are not rushing anything through. Any application will be looked at carefully and any application will have to add to the village rather than cause harm.

“The danger if we don’t have a policy is that developers can get away with development by appeal and build wherever they want.”

The Interim Housing Supply Policy would run until 1,000 homes are built or until the Vale adopts a core strategy setting out how the area will develop over the next 15 years.

Carter Jonas did not respond to our request for a comment.