A DEVELOPMENT of 2,500 homes, schools and leisure facilities in Grove has been resurrected after it was put on hold because of the recession.

A planning application by Persimmon Homes for the scheme at Grove airfield will be submitted in the first half of next year, the company said.

The developer was due to make an application to Vale of White Horse District Council in September last year, but put the project — which would double the population of Grove to 16,000 — on hold because of “tough economic conditions”.

Villagers greeted the news with caution.

Geoff Chown, of Mayfield Avenue, Grove, said: “I am not really for the development, unless it is completely revised to prevent flooding problems in the village.

“Quite frankly, I don’t think dumping an urban development on the edge of Grove is the right thing to do.”

But Chris Singer, 56, of Churchward Close, Grove, said: “I would sooner have houses there, as long as they have the right infrastructure to go with it.

“We could have a large factory or a rubbish incinerator there, which would be far worse.”

The scheme, already delayed by three years, could include primary and secondary schools, a community centre, sports hall, library, supermarket, post office, pub, and cafe or wine bar.

The Vale council’s Local Development Framework shows 500 of the homes to be built by 2011, a further 1,000 houses by 2016, and the final 1,000 by 2021.

Members of Grove Residents’ Group have pressed developers and the Environment Agency to ensure drainage is properly considered.

Don Summers, of Hawthorn Crescent, Grove, said: “It’s unlikely to bring any benefits to the village because by the time they have dealt with the existing problems of great crested newts and flood protection, there won’t be any money left over.”

The chairman of Grove Parish Council, Frank Parnell, said: “At least we know one way or the other now. It’s better than being in limbo, not knowing when or if it was going to happen. What I want to make sure of is that the issue of flooding at the site is looked into properly.”

Paul Davis, strategic land director at Persimmon Homes, said an application would be submitted as soon as possible.

He said: “We cannot give an exact month because there is so much work that goes into the application that it is dependent on a number of factors. If one part takes longer to complete than anticipated, or is delayed, then it affects the whole application, so it’s hard to give an exact time.

“I would like to take this opportunity to affirm our commitment to developing Grove airfield.”