OUTLINE plans have been submitted for nearly 700 new homes and a neighbourhood centre to be built near Wantage.

St Modwen Developments & Bare Trustees on behalf of the Crab Hill Partnership has applied to Vale of White Horse District Council for up to 669 residential units with associated infrastructure and open space on the land at Crab Hill Land north of A417 and east of A338 Wantage.

Planning permission was granted in 2015 for residential development of up to 1500 dwellings, now known as Kingsgrove, including new employment space, a neighbourhood centre/community hub, a new primary school, central park, and more on this land.

READ MORE: Vintage shop closing due to parking fees rise and quiet high street

However, the outline permission has been amended a couple of times primarily to amend the parameter plans.

Another condition was that all latter phrases of the development, which are applied for in phrases, are approved by July 13 this year.

However, the developers could not reach this deadline in time so have submitted these plans for the next phase of 669 homes separately from the main application.

In a design and access statement, the applicants said: “The main purpose of this application is to secure the ongoing approval to continue delivery of a high-quality residential development at Kingsgrove.

“The extant consent requires that applications for the approval of all remaining reserved matters shall be made no later than July 13, 2023.

READ MORE: Cocktail bar to close permanently after just one year

“Some phases will not meet this deadline and therefore this application seeks re-consent for the delivery of 635 units within the remaining residential phases.

“This application also seeks consent for a modest increase of 34 units in the later phases, constituting the reintroduction of 22 dwellings previously moved forward to Phase 1B, as well as a further 12 additional units.

“Securing approval for this new outline consent would allow St.Modwen to continue in their highly successful Master Developer role which is allowing the efficient and timely delivery of much needed housing within a high-quality landscape setting.”

The entire development is expected to be fully completed by 2031 after starting construction work in 2017.

Objections have already started to trickle in for the application.

Samantha Pike, of The Kestrels, said: “You have got to be joking. I think there has been enough disruption on this route already.

“What with a through road and a new supermarket another 669 homes will make Wantage like a mini city with all the extra traffic.

“Please, please do not approve this application. It is for pure greed of developers not for necessary homes.”

READ MORE: Boy hospitalised after being threatened with fake firearm

Mike Denney, of Paddock Close, added that his home would be way too close to the neighbouring boundary of the development.

The district council will make a decision by April 20 this year.

-

Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland