BLENHEIM Palace will triple its economic contribution to its surrounding area, its chief executive pledged at a public meeting.

Dominic Hare took the floor during Woodstock’s annual town meeting and unveiled a number of targets, including plans to build more than 300 affordable homes in and around the town.

He and the estate’s property director Roger File were grilled by residents on issues including parking, infrastructure, and the palace’s relationship with Woodstock.

Speaking to more than 100 people at the meeting on Tuesday evening, Mr Hare, who was appointed as the palace’s chief executive in November last year, discussed upcoming events and activity on the World Heritage Site before moving on to a number of targets for the estate’s future.

He said: “We pledge to triple our economic contribution to this area over the next 10 years.

“We promise to take on more than 100 local people on in apprenticeships over the next 10 years.

“And we have a commitment to build the first of what we expect to be 300 affordable homes.”

Mr Hare said the future of the palace was dependent on Woodstock and vice versa.

He continued: “No future vision, in 10 years or longer, for a successful Blenheim does not include successful and prosperous communities around Blenheim, and any vision for a successful Woodstock depends on a successful Blenheim.

“We want to give young people who live in these areas the realistic aspiration to stay in these areas. We have targets to help people set up new businesses and protect the community they live in.

“These targets are about Blenheim choosing to make profits in ways that explicitly benefit the community around us.”

In February, a West Oxfordshire District Council planning committee approved plans to build 300 homes near Blenheim Palace.

The development, for land east of Oxford Road, Woodstock, had received hundreds of objections, with residents raising fears over lack of affordable housing, congestion and parking problems.

Mr Hare was questioned on the palace’s commitment to providing affordable housing, with one resident saying there was simply no suitable affordable housing for young and retired people.

Mr Hare said he agreed with the concerns over affordable housing, adding: “We are in early discussions with the district council about how we can take affordable housing further.

“We will work hard to make them as affordable as we can.”

Resident Gwynneth Seume quizzed the palace representatives on parking in Woodstock.

She said: “So many people won’t come here because they can’t park. If we’re going to have more and more people, we’re going to need more and more parking. Is there any chance Blenheim could allow a bit of land.