Spending on new market town plan nears £14m

Chalgrove Airfield could be used for homes if Homes England's plan is successful

A government agency's spending on a project to build thousands of new homes on a village's airfield was nearing £14m last month.

Homes England wants to build 3,400 homes at Chalgrove Airfield, in Oxfordshire, to create a "21st Century market town".

Ejector seat manufacturer Martin-Baker has resisted efforts to get it to move from the site and many villagers remain opposed.

Two district councils are also against it, calling the proposal "ill thought through".

South Oxfordshire District Council included the project in its Local Plan after it was told to do so or face further intervention by former communities secretary Robert Jenrick in 2020.

But the authority said it wants to drop it from its new Local Plan, which it is preparing with neighbouring Vale of White Horse District Council.

Homes England said it had spent £13,962,463 on the project by mid-July, in a response to a freedom of information request.

It previously pulled an application in May 2021. Martin-Baker has a lease at the airfield until 2063.

Concerns about the overall development and the proximity to the airfield’s runway were previously raised by the Civil Aviation Authority and residents.

Currently, there are about 1,200 homes in the village and community events were held for residents about the project in April.