A major housing development could almost treble the size of a picturesque village.

New proposals have been unveiled to build 68 homes on the site of the former factory and laboratories belonging to agro-chemical giant Dow Agro Sciences in Letcombe Regis, near Wantage.

There are 210 homes in the village and the proposed development would represent a 32 per cent rise in its size.

Property consultants DTZ says its plan has so far received a positive reaction from many villagers. Philip Atkins, of DTZ, said: "We have met the parish council, villagers and village groups to outline our proposals and the positive response that we have got has been very refreshing. "Dow has always had a good relationship with the village and want to maintain that by providing a development which would help revitalise and add to the community."

Mr Atkins said extensive consultation would take place to allow people to have their say on the plans, which have been drawn up by Wantage architects BHP Harwood.

Villager John Blair said: "The area is 3.5 hectares and if this company walks away then a Mickey Mouse builder could easily come in and put 200 to 212 homes on the site, which would completely swamp the village."