Planning officers want the expansion of west Witney to take place earlier than planned so a new junction with the A40 can be built.

The move follows a year of talks to ensure that the delivery of new housing in the town has a road structure to support it.

The consortium of developers behind a new estate of 800 homes, in the north Curbridge area of the town, want to build and open the junction by 2008-9. The junction would provide access to the busy A40 at the southern end of Downs Road, which would be upgraded.

In return, the consortium wants to start work on the new estate earlier than planned.

If it is to go ahead, the deal must be agreed by west Oxfordshire district councillors in the revised Local Plan.

The council's director of development Andrew Tucker has recommended the council accepts the offer.

He said: "The linked issues of new housing delivery and supporting infrastructure has become an even greater priority in view of the uncertainties associated with the Cogges Link Road and the lack of firm programming for transport schemes in general."

The deal would mean work on the estate would begin as early as 2006.

In a report considered by the council's development control committee, Mr Tucker adds: "This could help ensure continuity of housing completions and secure earlier delivery of Witney's essential infrastructure than might be the case if the A40/Downs Road junction were to be constructed as a local authority scheme."

Councillors have already picked north Curbridge as the next area of housing expansion in the town.