PLANS for 52 homes on the edge of Oxford have tonight been approved by a planning committee.

Councillors of South Oxfordshire District Council backed the proposals for two sites, which included 47 homes off Waynfleet Road and five off Bayswater Farm Road.

The sites are in the Barton area but technically fall within the boundaries of the district council. 

To create an access road to the Waynfleet Road homes, developer Cala Homes has proposed demolishing two existing homes.

These fall within the boundaries of Oxford City Council, however, and so it has requested that it is given nomination rights for two homes within the new development. SODC has proposed these should be two in shared ownership. 

The development was approved by the planning committee despite local opposition, with concerns raised about the traffic impact, overlooking of neighbouring homes and flooding.

The district council's planning officer, Phil Moule, said there would be "no significant impact" on traffic and dismissed concerns about flooding as Cala Homes has proposed a so-called "sustainable urban drainage system".

He added neighbours would not "suffer from an undue loss of privacy".

Also approved at the meeting were 78 homes on land off Mill Lane in Chinnor and 400 homes, offices, retail and warehouse space at former Didcot A Power Station land.