CAMPAIGNERS against a housing estate that would double the size of Woodstock “have won the battle but not yet the war” after West Oxfordshire District Council binned the plans.

A bid to build 1,200 homes, a new primary school, a care village and a football ground was turned down by WODC last week but will be considered again by Cherwell District Council tomorrow as the site covers both areas. Cherwell’s planning committee members are being recommended by officers to reject the scheme.

Pye Homes originally put forward a plan for 1,500 homes on land owned by the Blenheim Palace estate to the east of Woodstock, but scaled it down to 1,200 homes in June.

Woodstock Action Group has strongly opposed the scheme and more than 1,200 people have publicly objected to it.

Chairman Bob McGurrin said: “We are pleased West Oxfordshire has refused the plans. But it feels like we have won the battle but we have not won the war yet. Cherwell still have to make their decision but we are confident they will also refuse it.”

There are currently about 1,300 homes in Woodstock and the plans would take it to about 2,500. WODC’s development control committee turned down the plans on a number of grounds, including the fact that the size of the development would harm the Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site.

It also felt that in relation to Woodstock the scale of the plans was “disproportionate and inappropriate”.

Dr McGurrin said: “It would double the size of Woodstock and the number of houses is just not needed here.”

Graham Flint, on behalf of developers Pye Homes, said: “Although we are disappointed, we are encouraged that some members of the development control committee acknowledged that the plans would bring many benefits to Woodstock, and that the site was a suitable location for new homes.”