A plan for 3,500 homes and additional facilities near Abingdon will cause "horrendous" traffic say villagers.

A proposal for the new homes close to Culham Science Centre was included as part of South Oxfordshire District Council's Local Plan in 2019.

Now an outline planning application by CEG Land Promotions has been submitted for additional facilities off Abingdon Road, following demolition of some existing buildings.

READ MORE: Grass is left uncut for months

This includes 15,000 sq m of employment floorspace; up to 2,500 sq m of hotel floorspace, equating to about 100 hotel bedrooms; up to 600 sq m of retail floorspace; up to 500 sq m of health club/gym floorspace; space for a creche and children's nursery, and space for a restaurant and pub.

Abingdon North county councillor Nathan Ley said on Facebook: "This is a site included as part of the SODC Local Plan, which was pushed through nationally by the Secretary of State in 2019, thus it is not a shock to see this."

He added: "As well as the 3,500 homes, the plans also include two primary schools, one secondary school and supporting infrastructure."

(Image: Oxford Mail) Clifton Hampden Parish Council has asked if it can have until September 1 to respond to the latest plans - the deadline for responses was July 19. It wants more time to consult residents.

A spokesperson said: "The council is concerned about the large number of planned buildings, up to 25m above ground level, which will make the site visible even from Wittenham Clumps; light pollution; concentration on leisure facilities which will impinge on established local businesses; lack of assurance that foul water drainage does not make the current sewerage problems in the village even worse, and increased traffic congestion.

"During the construction period of the Culham Site 1 starting in 2025, traffic will be horrendous.

"It is likely that construction of both the HIF road scheme and the Culham Site1 development will take place at the same time, causing havoc on the busy A415.  Congestion will be horrendous.

"The Clifton Hampden bypass has not yet been finally approved. The promised relief is in doubt when the most direct route between Culham and Berinsfield remains the A415 through Clifton Hampden and Burcot.

(Image: Oxford Mail) "There are no plans to facilitate traffic arising from the bypass once it reaches the Golden Balls roundabout.

"An approach road for construction vehicles to Culham Site 1 shown on a map in the plans is the B4015 from Golden Balls to Chislehampton, which is unsuitable for heavy vehicles. No plans have been developed to improve this road."

The spokesperson said the parish council was opposed to the start of construction before improvements were made to traffic plans to accommodate the large number of heavy goods vehicles.

The parish council added that use of Culham rail station was not likely to offset traffic generated by a 100-bed hotel and other new developments planned for the site.

Residents who have objected to the plans say the land at Culham safeguards the character of Abingdon surrounding villages and the countryside, and should not be destroyed.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.