Traffic figures for a controversial new business park in North Oxford had been vastly underestimated, an inquiry heard today.

Developers say the number of vehicles travelling to the proposed Northern Gateway business park, near Pear Tree, would be 1,296 during peak morning hours, 7.30am to 8.30am.

And they say it would generate an extra 530 vehicles on the Pear Tree/Wolvercote roundabouts at peak times adding to the 1,449 cars which currently use them.

But Peter Headicar, of the department of planning at Oxford Brookes University, said the developers’ figures were flawed. He said the majority of workers would travel to the business park from outside the city and would drive.

Consultants Kier and Goodman, in conjunction with landowners Merton, Worcester and St John’s colleges have put forward a plan for a business park on 100 acres of land.

Transport planner Nick Church told the inquiry at Oxford Town Hall a link road between the A40 and A44 could be built to ease traffic flows, along with measures to discourage driving.

But Steve Hayes, of Oxfordshire County Council’s highways department, said: “It will be extremely difficult to achieve the figures outlined.

“If it was that simple to reduce congestion at that junction the county council would have done it years ago.”

The two-day inquiry finished today. The inspector is due to report to Oxford City Council at the end of next month.