Villagers living near Wantage are fearful that plans for 16 homes in the area could create a "spike of development into the countryside".
Developer Rectory Homes wants to build the houses on land near Chain Hill Road on the outskirts of Wantage.
So far nine objections have been lodged to the Vale of White Horse District Council.
Wantage Town Council also objected to the plans.
The council's objection said: “We consider this to be inappropriate development in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and it would result in significant harm.
"The site is not included in local plan and is outside the Wantage settlement boundary.
“Access to the site would be extremely problematic.”
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“It is also inside the protected AONB, and no large development can be of any benefit to the AONB.
“This site will have an unsafe entrance onto Chain Hill with poor visibility downhill due to height of bank and semi mature trees on highways verge, (conveniently not shown on some plans) vehicles will always be accelerating uphill despite speed limit.”
An objection from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group said: “The land around Wantage is generally impermeable and we object to this application if this will turn into yet another development where surface water runoff affects existing properties.
“We require more details from the developers and assurance from the qualified drainage officer that he/she is satisfied that this will not happen.
“There are no exceptional circumstances which would justify this development.”
Objectors listed as Mr and Mrs Couch, of Humphries Green, whose forenames have not been disclosed, said: “Due to Wantage already being overdeveloped we have seen and felt the strain on our local NHS services and local schools, resulting in a minimum of three week waits for a doctors appointment and school placements being offered out of placement.
“We believe this development would be making this situation considerably worse.”
In the applicant's planning statement, it said: “The proposal exceeds the local and national requirements, therefore, is providing a public benefit on a sustainably located site, flanked by existing residential development.
"The design reflects the immediate residential character and assimilates into the built-up limits and landscape character.
“The proposal is considered as ‘infill development’ as it is flanked by existing residential development.
“Furthermore the site is in a sustainable location with access to a range of services and facilities via sustainable transport modes.
“The proposal is in keeping with the local character and provides public benefits through excess provision of affordable housing, excess open space provision, in addition to excess biodiversity net gains.”
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About the author
Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government.
He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years.
Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby
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