CAMPAIGNERS last night branded plans for a controversial new business park in North Oxford as “unsound”.

Developers clashed with opponents of the proposed Northern Gateway business park, which is earmarked for 100 acres of land near Pear Tree roundabout.

The scheme has outraged residents in North Oxford and Wolvercote – who were given a chance to have their first official say on the plans at the Town Hall yesterday.

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “This plan is unsound and does not take into account the necessary housing and jobs balance.

“At the moment, people are being forced out of Oxford because of the high house prices and then commute back in.

“Employment land sucks people in but where do they live? This proposal is fundamentally unsound because it acts as a further source of commuting.

“Oxfordshire can have business expansion in places outside Oxford, using the Oxford name.”

The plan is being put forward by consultants Kier and Goodman, in conjunction with landowners Merton, Worcester and St John’s colleges.

Campaigners gathered at the town hall to address Government planning inspector David Fenton at the hearing, which will conclude today.

Jonathan Gittos, a spokesman for opposition group Engage, said: “The estimated number of jobs that would be created is 4,000 according to the developers.

“But we believe the number could be closer to 8,000, considering the amount of employment land that will be made available.”

Dr Harris said the scheme failed to take into account growth in neighbouring districts, where a minimum of 18,000 new jobs would be created before 2016. He said the failure to take into account local authority boundaries meant employment opportunities “could suffer through competition”.

Jean Fooks, Liberal Democrat city councillor for Summertown, said new primary schools would have to be built to accommodate pupils from families attracted to the area by the business park.

She said: “Oxford does not need new jobs. Central Oxfordshire may do, but the jobs need to be where there are houses – in places like Bicester, Didcot and Witney.

“The jobs and housing balance is out of kilter and half the workforce in Oxford commutes in.

“The Wolvercote roundabout is the most congested in the city and we do not need more traffic in the area.”

Helen Whall, a spokesman for the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), said the group was relieved to hear that consultants Kier had said the proposed development could be built without affecting neighbouring Green Belt land.

Mr Fenton will not make any recommendations today and is expected to produce a report on his findings next month.

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