A new plan has been submitted for a major 3,500-home development near Abingdon despite concerns it will dwarf the nearby village.
Applicant CEG Land Promotions II would like to build the houses on Abingdon Road near Culham and Abingdon.
The proposed site lies to the east of the Culham Campus, which offers a “community of individuals dedicated to driving change across various sectors, including fusion energy robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, and life sciences”.
The controversial plans were first introduced in the final version of the South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) local plan as part of a blueprint for 22,500 homes to be built across the district by 2033.
A final version of the plan was published in October 2017, where many people called for the Culham scheme to be dropped in response to a consultation.
A planning paper from the applicant says: “The development is making the best and most efficient use of a previously developed site.
“There will be improved walking, cycling and public transport provision in the area.
“There will be at least a 10 per cent increase in biodiversity net gain achieved as a result of the development.”
The proposals also provide for up to 115,000 sq m of employment floor space as well as up to 600 sq m of retail floor space, and up to 500 sq m of health club gym floor space, as well as approximately 100 hotel bedrooms.
The applicant says the site is “excellently positioned adjacent to Culham Station, which provides trains to Oxford, Didcot and Banbury”.
The planning paper adds Oxfordshire County Council has expressed a desire to minimise parking provision to encourage sustainable alternatives.
In response to an initial consultation on the proposal, Culham householder Tobias Pejkovic of the Save Culham Green Belt group said he thought SODC was stuck in a “chicken and egg situation”.
The campaigner said: “They can’t build the homes because the roads can’t cope but equally they can’t get funding for new roads without promising thousands of new homes.”
Objector Sophie Wilson, who also responded to the consultation, said: “I strongly oppose the proposed 3,500 homes and removing the Culham farmland site from the green belt.
“The land at Culham safeguards the characters of Abingdon town and the villages and the countryside and should not be destroyed.”
The Oxford Green belt is to the north of the site, and the applicant has suggested it will consider this when exploring building heights.
The site is serviced by the 45 bus route, which connects Abingdon to Berinsfield and runs every 30 minutes at peak times.
The council has not provided an expected decision date but says all written responses to the application must be received by July 19.
