MEETING fresh house building targets means a planned estate in Abingdon could almost double in size.

Vale of White Horse District Council wants to increase the Dunmore Road estate, alongside the A34, from 610 to 1,000 properties.

It comes after a study funded by Oxfordshire councils said housing targets in the district had to be almost doubled to 100,060 to meet demand by 2031.

This meant the Vale council had to boost numbers from 13,000 properties to 20,560 and the sites for the extra homes were announced in the summer.

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Now, after further public consultation, a final plan has been published that boosts numbers at Dunmore Road but removes 200 from Radley.

Cabinet member for planning Mike Murray said: “It’s critical that we get the plan in place as soon as we can so we can make sure developments in the district are suitable and sustainable.”

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all councils to demonstrate they have plans to meet housing demand for the next five years. It recommended councils carry out Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) studies on how many properties are needed.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Oxfordshire welcomed the changes to Radley. But spokeswoman Helena Whall said: “Overall, we are disappointed the Vale has stuck to the unsound and unsustainable SHMA figures.”

Abingdon Town Council leader Sandy Lovatt said: “There is going to be quite a lot of argument about it.”

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