Plans to build 271 new homes for military staff near the UK's largest RAF base have been branded "much needed" and "a very positive thing".

Developers submitted an application to West Oxfordshire District Council on Monday March 4 scoping opinion for the proposals.

The houses are earmarked for Carterton between Upavon Way and Northwood Crescent near the RAF Brize Norton airbase.

READ MORE: Albanian cannabis operation uncovered in Oxford, court hears

Conservative county councillor Nick Leverton believes the proposal is a "long-awaited step forward".

The Carterton South & West division representative said: "It is much needed accommodation for the military and has been a long time coming.

Oxford Mail: Nick Leverton.Nick Leverton. (Image: Contribution.)

"I believe this is a long-awaited step forward and am expecting it to be a very positive thing.

"A need has clearly been identified."

When asked if his views were in keeping with previous Conservative scepticism towards planned housing developments to ensure planning was "in keeping with area", Mr Leverton said: "It's right that some Conservative councillors have been sceptical of housing developments.

"But this has been in the local plan for a while and is not surprising.

"It is a like-for-like replacement of what had been there previously."

The large brownfield site known as REEMA North, next to the leisure centre in Carterton, is an area where military housing once existed but has since been demolished and not replaced.

Oxford Mail: The land in question.The land in question.

There had been calls previously for the Brownfield site to be used as military accommodation, with Witney and West Oxfordshire MP Robert Courts saying it was "unacceptable" that RAF families were living in "substandard" homes.

The site is not located within any green belt area or 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'.

An application was submitted this week to determine whether the proposal constitutes Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development.

This would require developers to identify, predict, evaluate and mitigate the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.

Oxford Mail: Robert Courts at Reema North in Carterton.Robert Courts at Reema North in Carterton. (Image: Robert Courts)

Mr Leverton concluded: "I have not seen the final plans and will take a view once they are in front of us.

"But this has been a long time coming.

"I believe it's for the public good.

"It is the last strategic site we have in Carterton."

Norman MacRae MBE, who spent many years at Brize, previously said slow progress on the development was having a knock-on effect.

He added: "The area was flattened with a view to rebuilding straight away, but it's been put back and back.

Oxford Mail: Norman MacRae was previously mayor of Carterton.Norman MacRae was previously mayor of Carterton.

"Therefore our service families are having to be quartered in Fairford and Faringdon.

"This is putting pressure on the housing market for our young people and increasing the use of our roads.

"We want people to be in in nice houses, we don't want flat land.

"Our service folk are entitled to good housing, so let's give it to them."