HUNDREDS of new homes could be built on the Didcot power station site when part of it is decomissioned, according to the leader of South Oxfordshire District Council.

Ann Ducker has raised the possibility of homes being built once coal-fired Didcot A is decommissioned by 2015.

Mrs Ducker said South and Vale of White Horse council officers and RWE npower bosses have been discussing the possibility.

The proposal was revealed at a meeting of the Didcot Community Forum, held at Didcot Civic Hall earlier this month.

The meeting was hosted by consultants Aecom, hired by the councils after Science Vale UK, which includes Harwell and Milton Park, won Enterprise Zone status last year. Their brief is to talk to people about how they would like to see Didcot developed.

Science Vale UK is one of 10 new Enterprise Zones created by the Government following a successful bid from Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

When the zone was announced last year, it was estimated there could be a £9m-a-year boost to the economy with 8,400 jobs created by 2015.

Oxfordshire LEP is now deciding how to spend £6m of Government infrastructure funding.

Mrs Ducker said: “If you put houses on the power station site it is possible that you could reduce the number of homes being built elsewhere.

“We understand that the site is being considered by RWE npower for housing because it has to try to get the best price it can.

“Potentially we are talking about hundreds of homes, but we want to hear from the public what they would like to see there – it won’t necessarily be housing.”

Didcot A manager Jim Haggan said: “Under current legislation, the power station will have to close by the end of 2015.

“The site remains a significant site for future power generation – however, what that technology could be is still to be determined.

“There are many varied uses for the site post-demolition, but the long-term future developments of the site are not known at this stage.”

Two other key sites council leaders want feedback on are the Didcot Island site – the area in front of Didcot Parkway railway station – and Broadway.

Mrs Ducker added: “The Didcot Island site could be a new gateway into Didcot and it’s the ideal location for a new hotel.

“However, there are three or four different landowners in the area.

“With the arrival of the Orchard shopping centre, there has been a shifting focus away from Broadway and we need to be clear what the future of Broadway will be.”

SODC spokesman Andy Roberts said a public consultation meeting would be staged in the next few weeks at the town’s Cornerstone Arts Centre to discuss issues raised at the forum.

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