A GOVERNMENT agency has pledged to shoulder massive infrastructure costs for a controversial new site that could be dropped from a council's housing plan.

Homes England told South Oxfordshire District Council on Friday that it would take on all the costs of moving the current Icknield Community College in Watlington to a new site as part of the Chalgrove Airfield development.

Two new primary schools would also be built. The total cost for the three projects would be about £60m.

Chalgrove Airfield is currently part of the council's Local Plan, which shows where it plans to build until 2033. The local authority has previously said it wants to build 3,000 homes on the site – despite huge opposition from residents.

Documents also show Oxfordshire County Council worry that the £90m pledged by Homes England for transport improvements would be insufficient.

Today the council's cabinet will decide whether to recommend ditching any development on Chalgrove Airfield altogether.

It could also recommend keeping it as an option but finding another as a reserve or carry on despite concerns. All decisions taken on the Local Plan, which the council hopes to submit in the summer, must be made at a full council meeting.

South Oxfordshire council officers said they recommend the option of keeping the airfield but finding a possible alternative.

Homes England said that it hopes the 3,000 homes would be built by 2033.

As part of that, 50 would first be built in 2021, with that increasing by a maximum of 450 homes each year over the next 12 years from then.

Paul Boone, the chairman of Chalgrove Airfield Action Group, said South Oxfordshire council seemed determined to carry on with despite worries.

He claimed the plan was a 'plum' for the council since Homes England had promised to stump up so much money.