HUNDREDS of new homes, a primary school, village centre and a care home will be built on the outskirts of Bicester.

Phase two of South West Bicester, the Kingsmere estate, was approved by Cherwell District Council on Thursday night.

Up to 726 houses will be built on farmland between Middleton Stoney Road and Vendee Drive.

Phase two is being built next to phase one of the development by Countryside Properties.

By the time the work has finished, about 2,300 homes will have been built in the estate.

Andrew Carrington, director of developer Countryside Properties, said: “Phase two provides additional community and social infrastructure including a new primary school, as well as excellent connections to Bicester town centre and the countryside, all of which will help create a vibrant place to live.”

The homes will be a mixture of maisonettes, bungalows and houses and at least 30 per cent will be affordable housing.

But not everyone is so keen on the plans.

Residents of Ware Street, which is opposite phase one, told the Oxford Mail they had concerns.

James Smith, 19, who lives on the street, said: “The traffic is already horrendous and I think it will be made a lot worse by all the new people moving in.”

Bicester Advertiser:

  • Phase 2 of Kingsmere

Terry Cairns, 64, said: “It was always going to go ahead, I don’t think we could have done anything to stop it. I just hope there will be enough infrastructure to support it.”

However, Ware Street resident Matthew Shipman was more upbeat.

The 26-year-old said: “It will be good for Bicester, it will bring more people in.”

Before building work starts at the site, Countryside Properties needs to submit more detailed plans to the council.

Bicester Advertiser:

  • The Kingsmere development

It will also be required to make Section 106 contributions to amenities and services including the secondary school on phase one and improved transport links including bus, roads and rail.

Cllr Michael Gibbard, lead member for planning at the council, said: “This site has been earmarked for development in Cherwell’s submitted draft local plan and, as such, this is not a speculative application by an opportunistic developer. The development meets guidelines as set out in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.”

The first phase of the Kingsmere development, off Oxford and Middleton Stoney roads, began in April 2010.

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