A military barracks near Abingdon is to be transformed into a garden village featuring more than 5,000 new homes.
A series of consultation meetings are about to be held to inform residents in the town and surrounding villages about plans for Dalton Barracks Garden Village.
The Ministry of Defence has declared that the barracks and former Abingdon Airfield currently used by the army will be vacated and released for development in 2031.
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A sustainable development is being proposed, built on 'garden village' principles.
A leaflet posted sent to residents from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation says: "The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is progressing proposals to bring forward a new development at Dalton Barracks.
"The long-term phased project aims to create a new community, aligning with Local Plan policies to deliver a substantial residential-led development."
It added: "The former airfield is already no longer required for military purposes and can be developed in advance of the main site's closure.
"Dalton Barracks (main site) will cease military outputs, be vacated and released for redevelopment in 2031."
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There will also be new primary schools and a site for a new secondary school, to serve the development and the wider area.
There will also be extended and enhanced bus services to link the site to key facilities, and a comprehensive network of cycle paths.
The barracks site was designated as a Garden Village in 2019.
Since then, the DIO has liaised with Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to develop a draft vision for the site.
Part of the airfield at the Ministry of Defence site was chosen for development as part of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan as early as 2021.
At that stage, it was suggested the development would include 1,200 homes as well as a primary school but the suggested number of homes has now risen.
The DIO says it is now looking to deliver the Garden Village in two phases through the Local Plan process and associated planning applications.
The council said in a statement online: "Part two of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 was adopted in October 2019 and allocated a mixed-use development, containing 1,200 homes on the Dalton Barracks Strategic Allocation, including a release of land from the Green Belt.
"The Dalton Barracks Strategic Allocation forms part of the wider Ministry of Defence (MOD) base at Dalton Barracks, which was selected to join the Garden Communities Programme as a Garden Village in 2019."
The former airfield, where homes would be built first, hosts community events including the Abingdon Air and Country Show.
The first of a series of consultation meetings takes place on Wednesday, November 27 at Sunningwell Village Hall from 10am to 1pm.
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Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
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