MORE than 100 new homes should not be build on ancient open farmland.

That's the view of Wayne Burt, of heritage site Pyrton Manor, over plans for new homes in Watlington.

Plans have been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council to build 130 homes in the market town.

Providence Land Limited wants to build 70 homes on land off Cuxham Road and 60 west of Pyrton Lane.

Planning permission for 183 homes was given on appeal in February 2020, meaning Watlington will be getting an additional 313 homes.

Mr Burt objected to the Pyrton Lane plans, which are close to the manor.

He said: “I don’t think we should be allowing 60 houses to be built on prime, green, ancient farming land and open space when there are other sites around.

“I also think in a state of a climate emergency and massive over-housing anyway in South Oxfordshire this is entirely unnecessary.”

Mr Burt wants to protect the heritage site and believes building homes in the area would cause light pollution, noise and urbanisation and would like to see an acoustic barrier put in place.

There were also many objections over construction vehicles going through nearby Cuxham village.

Councillor Ian Goldsmith said: “We believe it is not safe to put further traffic down through Cuxham either through traffic generated from this site or from construction traffic. We would ask you not to put construction traffic through Cuxham from either of the two sites.”

Watlington councillor Anna Badcock agreed and suggested construction vehicles use the M40 and Pyrton Lane to avoid going through Watlington and Cuxham.

It was also suggested that cycle paths and footpaths will be designed to link up surrounding villages Cuxham, Pyrton and Watlington.

Developers aim to give all 130 homes electric vehicle charging facilities and there will be a proportion of affordable housing on the sites. The proposed homes are surrounded by open green space, protected land, listed buildings and heritage site Pyrton Manor.

The planning committee has approved the outline applications. Access, layout and scale will be decided at a later date.

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