Michael Gove has postponed his decision on a controversial housing plan in a South Oxfordshire village by two months.

The decision regards plans by developers JT Leavesley to build 350 homes on green belt land off Papist Way in Cholsey.

The original plans were rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, but the decision was appealed by the developers last year.

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The Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was originally due to decide on this appeal on April 13.

However, he has now pushed back the decision date to June 13.

There has been pressure on Mr Gove to reject the appeal, with hundreds of villagers in Cholsey sending him postcards to express their concerns.

Oxford Mail: Michael Gove Michael Gove (Image: Newsquest)

On April 12, just a day before the decision was set to be made, Cholsey Parish Council was informed by the government department it had been postponed.

A council statement said: “No specific reason for this was given other than that further time is required for this case; this decision was made by the Secretary of State as allowed under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Regulation 2004.

“Cholsey Parish Council will endeavour to keep Cholsey residents informed as we get further information.”

A spokeswoman from the department said: “This case is currently with the Secretary of State for decision, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”