A GARDEN village planned for West Oxfordshire has received a £150,000 cash injection from Homes England.

The funds will help support additional community engagement and expert advice into the future planning for the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Garden Village, which is set to be built north of Eynsham.

The site is being taken forward through an Area Action Plan, which is needed for any location or area of significant change.

The garden village will have 2,200 new homes, a new science business park and its own village facilities.

Read again: £180m plan to improve the A40

West Oxfordshire District Council said additional funding will help the Council ensure that the garden village is an exemplar development incorporating best practice.

Jeff Haine, the council's cabinet member for housing and planning, added: “This initial stage of design and planning are vitally important and we are working closely with local residents and a range of stakeholders, to achieve the best possible outcome for what will be West Oxfordshire’s first garden village.

“Our planning officers are providing communities with expert guidance and advice as we move towards setting the structure and parameters for the development and these funds enable us to access additional professional expertise.”

The garden village is a key element of the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031.

It will unlock funds to improve infrastructure and boost the case for improvements to local transport links, including upgrades to the A40, according to the council.

Read again: Residents 'close' A40 to protest garden village

During Parliamentary Business Questions in the House of Commons on Thursday, Witney MP, Robert Courts, emphasised the importance of infrastructure upgrades occurring before – not after – new homes are built.

The Witney MP asked what the government can do to assure communities that infrastructure upgrades, such as increased school and GP provision, as well as an improved Cotswold Line and A40 upgrades, 'come before – not after – new developments'.