A NEW primary school on a 1,000-home estate will take pressure off the current village school, it is hoped.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for education Melinda Tilley has approved outline applications for those expressing an interest in the school at Longford Park, near Bodicote. It will start the process from September.

The controversial housing development, also known as Bankside, off Oxford Road to the south of Banbury, was approved by Cherwell District Council in 2009 despite concern that it will further erode the “green gap” between villages and the town.

Chairwoman of nearby Bodicote’s parish council planning committee Pat Conway said she hoped the new school would take off some of the pressure off the village school, Bishop Loveday.

It is planned that the primary would open in September 2016 and would teach about 40 children. All new schools have to be either academies or free schools.

She said: “Bishop Loveday is an excellent school and because of that a lot of people from across Banbury want to send their children here.

“There are big problems with traffic now in the village and this could alleviate some of that pressure.”

  • Our top stories: