developers could get the upper hand in battles to build new estates, a council boss fears, after it was revealed a key housing target is being missed.

Michael Gibbard said developers could overturn Cherwell District Council decisions to reject estate plans because the authority is not getting enough homes built elsewhere.

The council has worked out that there are enough new homes to meet demand for nearly three years. The Government target is five years.

The council has backed a minimum 3,369 homes at 16 sites in Banbury and surrounding villages to provide affordable houses and curb prices.

But only 2,547 have been built, with no development at sites like Bankside, earmarked for 950 homes between Banbury and Bodicote.

Mr Gibbard fears developers could now convince the Planning Inspectorate, which handles appeals, to approve plans on other sites. He said: “That is the concern, that we will be penalised for that non-delivery (of homes).”