New houses could be built in Kidlington to pay for the planned relocation of the police headquarters to Bicester, writes Paul Warner.

Thames Valley Police outlined plans in July to move its cramped base, pictured, off Oxford Road, Kidlington, to land it owns in Gowell Farm, Bicester.

To help finance the multi-million-pound development, the Force wants to sell its Kidlington site for housing.

Kidlington Parish Council said it had no objection to the plan, provided affordable housing was built on the site.

Bill Bruder, planning chairman, said: "We shall be pushing for as much social housing as we can get." The parish council also said it wanted to see parks and play areas in the plans.

More cash for the new headquarters will also come from the sale of land at Gowell Farm, Bicester, for housing.

David Griffin, Thames Valley Police property services manager, said: "We are having to fund the new headquarters out of the sale of land at Kidlington and surplus land at Bicester.

"There is no Government money coming towards the cost."

An outline planning application for the new headquarters is expected to come before Cherwell District Council's south area planning committee next month.