A HOUSING developer is pledging a £7 million investment in education, sporting facilities and transport links as part of its new housing estate in South Oxfordshire.

Redrow Homes has successfully obtained planning permission for 450 homes in Milton Hill, near Didcot, which it will call ‘Blaise Park’.

The housebuilding giant is now preparing to break ground on the new development and has revealed details of its financial contributions to the community.

A breakdown of the investment sees £900,000 going towards improving local cricket, rugby, swimming and tennis facilities.

Contributions will be made towards a new sports hall in Didcot and Milton Hill Bowls Club, as well as Milton United Football Club receiving funds towards a new football pitch and football pavilion or club house.

More than £28,000 has also been designated for 'youth sport' and Redrow Homes South Midlands said it has provided more than two acres of land for a football pitch.

A greater portion of the cash, £5 million, will go towards education in the area to mitigate the impact of an influx of new pupils.

Nearby St Blaise Primary School at Milton Heights will be gifted land to expand and £2.7 million to carry out the works.

The firm said the new housing estate was ‘crucial’ for the school’s survival, allowing it to grow from 70 pupils to eventually cater for 210.

Redrow Homes also pledged £2 million to support the building of a new secondary school in Didcot and £174,000 for a special educational needs school.

Edward Irving, land director for Redrow Homes (South Midlands), said building is set to commence next month.

He added: “We pride ourselves on not only building beautiful homes, but on creating thriving communities, which is demonstrated by an investment of more than £7 million to improve sports and education facilities, as well as transport links in the local area.”

Redrow has vowed that 160 of the 458 homes will be allocated as affordable housing.

To improve links to the site, a pedestrian crossing on the A4130 will be created and a footbridge will be built over the A34 to provide walking routes to Didcot.

There will also be changes made to bus routes and construction of new bus shelters.

In 2016, a £11.6m transformation of the A34 Milton Interchange was completed in a bid to ease the large volumes of traffic.

Oxford Bus Company objected to the planning application because the site will be 1.2km from a bus stop and Milton Parish Council also complained about a lack of footpath or cycling access to nearby villages.