DIDCOT Mayor said he will “fight” for proper infrastructure following the planning approval of 750 new homes at Ladygrove.

South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, approved the application from Bloor Homes and Dare Warwick (Properties) for the 29.4-hectare site to the east of the existing Ladygrove.

The site, which has been earmarked for development since 2006, will also include six hectares of parkland, open space, play areas, a community centre and allotments.

Councillor Mocky Khan said he’s not against the development but he is against the lack of supporting infrastructure.

He said: “I’m too frustrated and too tired of developments happening without infrastructure in place, without medical practises, cycle lanes, proper roads, etc.

“This is what I will continue to fight for. Also, if we’re having these developments, we need to make sure there is affordable housing and rent.

“Didcot is becoming a premium place to live but I want young people starting their careers being able to work and live in Didcot and not have to go elsewhere because they are spending all their money on housing – the affordable housing needs to be delivered.”

Councillor David Rouane, who represents Didcot, said council now needs to “mitigate” the impact of the development on existing infrastructure.

He is concerned that the £648,000 in off-site contributions for health services is going to be allocated to Woodlands Medical Centre rather than a GP practise in Ladygrove.

He said: “The money was negiotated by a clinical commissioning group (CCG) sand they’ve said they would spend it on the extension of Woodlands Practise on Great Western park which is not a convenient place - it’s the otherside of town.

“The money is supposed to offset the impact of the development but it’s offfsetting the development in Great Western park so it’s always a step behind. Do we need to wait for the next big development to offset the impact of Ladygrove?”

Mr Rouane is also concerned about the lack of educational facilities and is worried parents will be driving their children to school, impacting the environment.

He said: “The two new primary schools in the northern east development are already quite full so new pupils will have to go to Didcot north east which will involve crossing at least one major road.

“No one is going to let their children walk to school and we want pupils to be able to do that that.

“So now we’re just setting up problems of more traffic and kids travelling to school by car. I think we now need to look at mitigating.”