Housing minister Caroline Flint has urged opponents of the proposed Weston-on-the-Green eco-town to continue to engage with developers.
Mrs Flint spoke during a visit to a social housing development in Rose Hill, Oxford, today.
She said if planned eco-town south of Bicester went ahead, it would provide thousands of affordable homes for people who wanted to commute into Oxford.
She said: "I understand people's concerns, but we have to recognise we haven't built enough homes over the last 30 years and Oxford is one of the most expensive cities in the country.
"We need to have an informed debate about the proposed eco-town and we will listen to people's concerns."
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