RESIDENTS and councillors have voiced their concerns over a “dreadful” plan for a low-carbon, 200-house estate in Faringdon.

Gloucestershire-based developer SGR Faringdon wants to create a sustainable housing estate between Fernham Road and Great Coxwell Road next to the A420.

Low-carbon features could include solar orientation of the houses, solar panels, and energy-efficient insulation standards, but have yet to be finalised.

Val and David Hughes built their house in Fernham Road, which overlooks the earmarked field.

Mr Hughes, 55, who is retired, said: “This has been mooted in the past, and everyone in the town knows the same thing.

“It is pointless building new houses until we’ve got the infrastructure; a new health centre, a new junior school and expansion of the senior school.

“The people in those houses would all be commuters, so the town would get nothing out of it except more council tax.”

He added: “I know that homes have to be built, but Faringdon has become a commuter town, and I think it’s a shame.

“Shops are closing down, and it has lost the character it had 20 years ago.”

Mrs Hughes, a teacher in her early 50s, said: “I think it would be dreadful.

“That is too much development on what is supposed to be green space, and we would be looking out of our windows at it.”

SGR is holding a public exhibition of its plans in Great Coxwell and Faringdon, but the site falls within the parish boundary of Great Coxwell.

A parish councillor said: “The villagers oppose the development and will be making their submissions when the planning application has been submitted.”

The Vale of the White Horse District Council’s core strategy indentified land either side of Coxwell Road in the parish of Great Coxwell as suitable for up to 400 houses, to help meet the housing need in the district. This proposal to the east of the road would cover half of that land.

District councillor for Faringdon Roger Cox said: “There was a speculative approach for a development here in 2010.

“The district council does not have an up-to-date local plan, nor can it demonstrate a five-year supply of building land.”

Rob Bolton of SGR said: “This is a proposal with genuine green credentials and great benefits for the area.

“We would like to consult with local communities and businesses to ensure we provide the best possible development that provides genuine economic, housing and social benefits to the area.”

  • The public exhibition will be held in the Great Coxwell Parish Reading Room between 2pm and 8pm on Friday, November 16, and between 10am and noon on Saturday, November 17, after which it will move to the Jubilee Room in The Pump House, Faringdon, for viewing between 1pm and 5pm.