Concerned neighbours have raised fears over parking and traffic as plans to build more than 100 flats are unveiled as part of the latest development at the controversial Didcot Gateway site.
Homes England is looking to get approval for an outline application to redevelop up to 144 apartments, which include the demolition of existing structures, hard and soft landscaping, parking and engineering works.
A new consultation period has begun and will continue until March 16.
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With potentially hundreds of people moving to new homes, neighbours have expressed concerns about traffic and parking.
Homeowner Daniel Andrew said: “When these people inevitably get cars, where do you expect them to park? Didcot is expanding at a ridiculous rate with the Great Western Park, Boundary Park, Ladygrove North development and the soon to be Valley Park. I think it’s fair to say that Didcot has footed its fair share of housing targets.
“Station Road already grinds to a halt every Saturday as the roads just cannot cope. The doctors, dentists and schools are all oversubscribed. We just do not have the infrastructure to support another 144 dwellings.
“The Gateway project was supposed to draw people into Didcot with shops, bars and restaurants, not unsightly seven-storey blocks of flats.”
The flats would be built on the land opposite Didcot Parkway, on Station Road, Lydalls Road and Haydon Road, previously home to Julian’s garage, the Labour Club and Jet garage.
In the application, Homes England stated: “[The site] would make an important contribution towards the District’s housing land supply, delivering approximately half of the number of [homes] for Didcot Gateway envisaged in the Local Plan.”
Councillor Ian Snowdown agrees with neighbours' concerns and believes that some measures need to be taken before the project is approved.
He said: “Residents are worried that when people buy these homes, they will have to park on the street because there isn’t enough parking space. There is already a parking problem there.
“I will be pushing for a condition where the owners of these homes won’t be able to apply for residents' parking permits.
“It is a low-car development, so people should be aware that they are expected to be more likely to get on the train or cycle.”
Mr Snowdon added: “I also believe that the application should put on hold until the Northern Perimeter Road Phase 3 is built. This road would divert traffic around instead of it going through, this would help with traffic in the area, but it won’t be built until December 2026 at the earliest.”
Last year, South Oxfordshire District Council approved the building concept design for its new offices planned to be built as part of the Gateway project.
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