RESIDENTS have welcomed plans to build houses on Witney’s former dairy site.

An application has been submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council to demolish the existing buildings and erect 14 houses at the old dairy site in Oxford Hill.

Dairy Crest closed the depot in April last year and milkmen now travel from Oxford and Swindon to deliver to West Oxfordshire homes.

The application, submitted by Chesside Homes, of Uxbridge, is for four two-bedroom houses, seven three-bedroom houses and three four-bedroom houses, with 31 parking spaces.

UK Building Plastics Direct occupies a shop at the front of the site, but a spokesman said the business was moving to Station Lane later this month.

Neighbours said the application looked “sensible” and would fit in with the surrounding area.

Witney East ward councillor Duncan Enright, who lives in nearby Newland, said: “When the dairy site closed, I went round the neighbours and asked for their views on what they wanted to see.

“The consensus was that it would be great to have houses there.

“I think housing would be the best thing. I have had a look at the plans, and the details still need to be worked through, but by and large it look sensible. Before it became a dairy, there were people living there both in caravan sites and allotments.”

He added: “It’s not a brilliant place to have a business. It’s rather a busy area and there’s a lot of traffic and having housing will make it simpler and a calmer area.”

Lynne Baylis, who runs Crofters Bed and Breakfast, in Oxford Hill, said: “I think it would be a good idea to have housing. It looks like a tacky mess at the moment.”

Fellow Oxford Hill resident Lyn Hill said: “I think housing would look better than shops or a business.”