PLANNING chiefs from two neighbouring councils have promised to work together on proposals to build 4,000 new homes on Green Belt land south of Oxford — despite disagreeing over whether the homes should be built at all.

The South East Plan, which was published last week, calls for 55,200 new homes to be built in Oxfordshire between 2006-2026, including 8,000 in Oxford.

In addition, the Government has ordered Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council to carry out a review of the city’s Green Belt boundaries to pave the way for an extra 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road.

Building on the area has long been a contentious issue.

The city wants to build new homes there, but south Oxfordshire — in whose administrative boundary the land lies — and Oxfordshire County Council have both vehemently opposed plans to put a massive housing development on the site.

City council leader Bob Price said the proposed development was “extremely good news” for the city.

However, SODC believes it is unsustainable to build south of Grenoble Road and inappropriate to build on the Green Belt.

Angie Paterson, SODC cabinet member for planning, said: “We will work with the city council, but we are extremely disappointed our valid arguments have not been listened to.

“We don’t believe this housing is needed and this is definitely not the right location.

“There will be gridlock on the A34 if the plans go ahead and we are seeking advice on the legality of the South East Plan in relation to the Green Belt review. We will consider shortly whether to challenge it in the High Court.”

Mr Price said the Government had told the two councils to work collaboratively to enable the 4,000 new homes and accompanying infrastructure to be built to a timetable agreed by the Government Office of the South East.

He said: “We will be working to bring forward early proposals for a sustainable extension to the south-east of the city and hope to work quickly and constructively with South Oxfordshire District Council to bring forward a plan as soon as possible.”

Ed Turner, the city council’s executive member for housing, said he hoped SODC “would do the sensible thing” and acknowledge the only way to solve Oxford’s chronic housing shortage was to expand its limits.

He said: “The South East Plan sensibly asks the two councils to work together and agree the precise area of development.

"We hope South Oxfordshire will take its head out of the sand and come to work with us. I would not like to speculate what would happen if South Oxfordshire refused to do the sensible thing.”

Ultimately, it will be SODC which determines whether specific planning applications are approved to build south of Grenoble Road because it is the local planning authority.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk