A PLAN for up to 84 new homes south of Bicester will be assessed by district councillors next week.

Developers want to build the homes on land north of Merton Road in Ambrosden but the Campaign to Protect of Rural England (CPRE), Cherwell District Council's conservation service and Ambrosden Parish Council are opposed.

The parish council said that if the land is built on, it could set a precedent for 'further development' which could lead to the boundary with Merton being blurred.

It said it would also obscure the view of the Grade II* listed St Mary's Church, which lies about 300 metres to the north east of the site.

CPRE said it also worried that the boundaries between Merton and Ambrosden could be blurred if the plan got the go-ahead.

Cherwell District Council's conservation service said any development would 'affect views of the church across what is currently an agricultural landscape'.

It said any building work should 'respect these existing views' – but that building could mean 'unacceptable harm'.

The district council said it had received 15 letters objecting to the scheme and none in favour.

The Cherwell District Council planning committee will be asked to make a decision on whether to give outline planning permission for the project at a meeting at its headquarters in Bodicote next Thursday.