A boom in house building in Abingdon shows the town is a popular place in which to live and work -- and now a further 169 new homes and business units close to the town centre are to be built.

The latest addition brings the total of new homes already built, currently under construction or planned to more than 600 in two years.

The new development will take shape on the revamped Thames View Industrial estate between the Waitrose store and Abbey Grounds and Abbey stream. A new path will link the site to the Abbey Grounds and the site will have CCTV coverage.

The homes and business units to be built by Barratt have been welcomed as another sign of the town's housing growth.

Abingdon Town Council had reservations about the scheme but its concerns were over-ruled by the Vale of White Horse District Council's development control committee, which voted overwhemingly in favour of what was described as a development of "high quality" homes.

Last year the council turned down plans by Kimberly Developments on the grounds of losing some business space.

But the company appealed and a public inquiry inspector found in its favour.

Committeee chairman Richard Farrell said: "There were some reservations about the revised plans but in the end councillors felt that this was a high quality development of homes and new business units.

"Abingdon is a popular place in which to live. The economy of the Vale in this area is one of the strongest in Europe with people working in Abingdon and at surrounding centres.

"Abingdon has a lot going for it."