HERITAGE experts have won a battle to protect 14 aircraft shelters at a former USAF base near Banbury - taking the site's development a step closer.

Cherwell District Council has agreed not to knock down the hardened concrete shelters on the Somerton edge of the base at Upper Heyford.

The decision followed English Heritage's objections to the council's revised planning brief for the site. It also meant the planning document could be formally approved by the council.

George Reynolds, the council's development portfolio holder, said most of the site's 56 aircraft shelters would now be kept.

He said: "It was always going to be difficult to balance the competing demands of environmental improvement and the heritage importance of the site.

"English Heritage has agreed to withdraw its objection. We can now get on with working with the developers to bring about much needed houses."

Councillors also discussed their policy towards the 57 businesses currently operating on the site.

About half of these have permanent permission to operate from the base, while the others have temporary permission.

The council said businesses with permanent permission would be included within the planned development on the base.

They also decided that some firms with temporary permission would also stay on the site.

But they added if companies used external storage that damaged the site's character, they should move elsewhere within five years.

Councillors also requested a further report on the potential for permanent car storage on the site.

Mr Reynolds added: "Although these businesses knew they were here temporarily, they have become established over the years and we must be sensitive to the employees.

"But we have a duty to protect the environment and ensure that we don't encourage traffic on the site's rural roads."

Ian Lough-Scott, chairman of Upper Heyford parish council, said there were various views about which cold war buildings should be kept, but villagers' main concerns focused on which housing would be kept and exactly where the new homes would be built.

He said: "None of these decisions tell local people what's going to happen to their homes."

The council will use the newly-approved document to assess future planning applications on the site. The North Oxfordshire Consortium, which owns the site, is drawing up proposals for 1,000 homes.