During a recent press briefing at the Cherwell District Council offices in Banbury, head of planning and affordable housing, Philip Clarke, said the number of new houses to be built in the area would increase from 623 per year to 670.

As he launched a public consultation into the Options for Growth document, Mr Clarke said: "The document sets out the Government's agenda for ensuring more homes are built across the country than has been the case in recent years."

Mr Clarke said the Government has called for three million new homes by 2026, requiring 13,400 new homes to be built in Cherwell by 2026.
Bicester and the surrounding villages are to take on an extra 6,400 new homes while Banbury is set to see 7,000 new homes in order for CDC to meet the Government's target.

It has not been made clear to the council how these figures will be affected if the 15,000-home 'eco-town' proposal at Weston-on-the-Green is successful.

However, developments already planned, including Bicester's 1,500-home south-west option, will be counted towards the Government's target.

CDC has already looked at sites to the west and south of Bicester and at another near Arncott which they think could sustain new housing.
The surrounding villages have also been categorised depending on sustainability, and those with the largest populations, the wider range of public amenities and the better links with neighbouring villages, are expected to take on the bulk of rural developments.

Cllr Michael Gibbard, CDC's portfolio holder for housing, said: "There are some difficult decisions to make about where housing should go and we need to hear people's views before we decide which are the best options.

"Although our housing targets are set for us by national and regional government, we have some real choices about how to provide that housing."

There will be a number of public exhibitions over the coming weeks, and the consultation is set to end on Monday, November 24.