GOLFERS have strengthened calls to scrap plans to build on a 100-year-old course after it was revealed Oxford needs far fewer homes than originally thought.

North Oxford Golf Club, used by close to 500 members of all ages, has been earmarked as part of plans for 3,900 homes on green belt land north of the city.

The proposals were brought forward by Cherwell District Council after Oxford City Council claimed it couldn't build the number it needed.

The Government had previously said Oxford needed to build 1,400 homes a year for the next decade to meet housing need, but a new method has reduced that to 746 per year.

Long-time club member Chris Pack said: "There needs to be some sort of rethink over these numbers and the site should remain as a golf course.

"The club's management committee is very concerned about the immediate issue regarding the lease on the land so it's up to members to protest against this."

Earlier this year the club revealed to members that the site's three landlords – Oxford University Press, Exeter College and Merton College – offered it £2.1m to help it relocate on the condition it didn't object to a future planning application once it was put forward.

In the meantime a combined new lease – with the three separate leases about to expire – would be signed ensuring golf at the site for at least the next decade.

Mr Pack, who is also chairman of Kidlington Parish Council, and a group of members have produced a video calling for more local politicians to back their fight.

He said members wanted to show the public their anger and the 'disastrous consequences' it would have for the club.

He said: "We can't possibly allow this lovely course and piece of green belt countryside, with its historic club and the health and social benefits it provides, to be simply bulldozed away."

Henley MP John Howell, who sat on the local plan's expert group which informed the Government's new figures, promised to intervene and support the members.

He told members: "I deplore the use of green belt for this purpose and will try to intercede."

After the revised figures were revealed Mr Howell said it would help make sure houses were built in the right place.

He said: "Of course there is a need for more housing, particularly cheaper market housing to allow first time buyers to get on the housing ladder.

"But this proposal establishes a balance which is currently missing for making sure we get the right houses in the right place."

"It is very good news for Oxfordshire."

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: "Together with the other councils in Oxfordshire and the local enterprise partnership, we will be reviewing the consultation document and the technical detail behind the formula, and considering what response we shall be making to it."