Hundreds of new homes planned for palace estate

Plans to build 500 houses on part of Blenheim Palace estate have been submitted to a local authority.

The Unesco World Heritage Site's housing operation wants to build the homes on land to the east of Park View in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

A public consultation into the plans is currently under way, with a final decision on the plans expected to be made by Cherwell District Council in September.

In 2015, Blenheim Estate Homes' plans to construct 1,200 homes on the same site - next door to Oxford Airport - were rejected by the same local authority.

In documents submitted to the council, the developers said the plans would create a "modest extension to Woodstock" which would "encourage community integration and social cohesion".

"The ambition and vision of Blenheim Estate Homes is to build beautiful homes and create thriving communities where people will enjoy living and working, now and in the future," it said.

The developers said it had a "deep-rooted relationship with the communities that surround Woodstock and feels a moral obligation to enhance their value and shared prosperity".

It added that in developing its land to create homes, it wanted to "ensure that places are delivered where people enjoy living and working and that new homes become part of the existing fabric".

The proposals include a target of 35% affordable housing, a community square and pedestrian and cycle links to Upper Campsfield Road and Shipton Road.

A public consultation runs until 10 July, with a council decision expected on 8 September.

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