AN INQUIRY into the future shape and size of Oxford resumes today.

Government planning inspector Stephen Pratt will hear objections to Oxford's core strategy, the planning blueprint for city development over the next two decades, at a hearing expected to last three days.

The strategy, drawn up by Oxford City Council, includes plans for 8,000 homes in the city and provision for employment sites.

A major issue has been the inclusion of a controversial Northern Gateway business park, near Pear Tree roundabout, that would provide 3,000 jobs and 200 homes.

The inquiry was put on hold last autumn after legal challenges to the South East Plan, the development framework for the region.

But regional plans were scrapped by the Government earlier this summer, handing power back to local authorities.

That move has all but ended city council hopes for a 4,000-home estate south of Grenoble Road as the site it lies within South Oxfordshire who have always opposed the development.

Reference to it has been removed from the core strategy Mr Pratt's binding report along with any recommended changes will be published later this autumn and the council expects to adopt its Core Strategy, complete with any revisions, in January.

The Core Strategy Examination in Public starts today at Oxford Town Hall, at 10am.