Councillors have said they would not have approved a development of 530 homes to the north west of Bicester which will go to appeal in any case.

Firethorn Developments appealed Cherwell District Council’s non-determination of its plans to develop two parcels of land, namely Home Farm and Lower Farm, in January. The sites total 23.97 hectares.

Cherwell District Council’s planning committee at its March 9 meeting, went against the officers’ recommendation and decided it would have opposed the scheme.

The committee decided the scheme did not reach sufficient net zero standards, lacked suitable pedestrian and cycle routes, meant the loss of trees, would cause traffic congestion and fell short of the desired 30 per cent affordable homes policy, offering just 10 per cent.

Firethorn has a deal in place with Crest Nicholson to develop the homes if and when permission is granted.

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