Defence officials have backed the prospect of 1,570 homes being built on a 350-acre airfield, writes Peter Barrington.

And they say the site at RAF Bicester will be sold off to a developer, rather than be handled in a joint venture between the Ministry of Defence and a private sector consortium.

North Oxfordshire College at Banbury is also interested in setting up a satellite college in old RAF buildings.

Kathleen Edwards, senior MoD land agent with the Defence Estates department at Aldershot, told the Oxford Mail: "I think it an excellent idea to put the houses on the airfield because it is a brownfield site."

She said the department had been co-operating with Cherwell District Council's Local Plan Review creating a blueprint for Bicester's growth up to 2011.

When the local plan was completed after an inquiry in 2002, the airfield would be sold.

Miss Edwards added: "I think that the airfield will probably be sold as a whole to a developer. It is unlikely there will be a joint venture of the the kind used at RAF Upper Heyford."

She said English Heritage had not yet confirmed the process of listing the old RAF buildings for preservation, coupled with some open space land. Hangars could be used for indoor sports and other activities and the other buildings could have a multitude of uses.

Town and district councillor Lawrie Stratford said he understood North Oxfordshire College was interested in using some of the buildings for a satellite college. It had already opened a small computer training amenity in former shop premises in Manorsfield Road, Bicester.

Last week the controlling Conservative group on Cherwell decided most of the town's future housing should go on the airfield site so there would be enough developers around to finance community amenities. Mr Stratford added: "People in villages might say they do not want housing development, but they can enjoy the amenities housing brings."

Cherwell estimates housing and the old buildings would take up about half the airfield, leaving more than 100 acres for recreation.

**The future housing for Bicester is due to be discussed at Cherwell's development committee on November 20.