YOU do not have to be a genius to figure out the motivation behind plans for a new “Oxford Garden City”.

It is money, of course, because the land between the Hanneys and Abingdon that was once earmarked for the Thames Water reservoir remains hugely valuable.

We are not critical of the landowners because they, like anyone, should be at liberty to explore the value of their assets.

But the problem is that while it may tick the odd box in terms of covering targets for building homes in the county, there are just too many other issues for this to be a credible proposal.

Whatever assurances about developer contributions might be, just think through the logistics of creating a whole new town the size of Abingdon.

Roads, schools, utilities and other ancillary support services cannot just be plucked out of thin air.

Then there is the town itself.

Milton Keynes and Welwyn Garden City may be great places to live, but it takes decades for a new urban area to develop into a proper, mature entity. And what of the intervening years?

Building a whole new town is worth a debate but we would caution against anyone choosing the drapes for their new home just yet.