A MAJOR £215m deal that could deliver infrastructure upgrades as part of 100,000 new homes in Oxfordshire was unanimously backed by West Oxfordshire District Council.

The council gave its support to the Government’s growth deal last week, with councillors saying it may provide a real opportunity to fix some of the area’s infrastructure problems – including congestion on the A40.

As part of the deal £150m will be used for transport infrastructure, £60m to guarantee affordable housing and another £5m will be used to aid the planning process.

Council leader James Mills believes the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal is key to the delivery of the county’s needs and future potential as a world-class economy.

He said it could serve as a solution to issues consistently raised by residents in the district.

Mr Mills added: “Residents are continually asking about infrastructure and this deal will not only help with that but will also be seen as a down payment for the county with more funding to come.

“Oxfordshire is already a successful part of UKplc, contributing £22bn to the Exchequer and the Government wants to build on that success to deliver more housing and economic growth.

“In West Oxfordshire, this is an opportunity to resolve some of our infrastructure problems and deliver more affordable housing.”

The Housing and Growth Deal, announced by Government in its Autumn Budget Statement, will provide £215m of funding over a five year period.

This funding will support the delivery of around 100,000 new homes and infrastructure developments, as outlined in each council’s emerging local plan.

Full agreement of the deal with Government is subject to agreement by each of the Oxfordshire local authorities.

So far Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council have agreed to the growth deal.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has agreed to the deal but it has yet to go before full council.

Councillors on Cherwell District Council is set set to agree to the deal next week.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England had raised concerns about the deal, and wrote to all district councillors urging them to vote against plans to commit to ‘more homes than the county needs.’

The group’s Oxfordshire director, Helen Marshall, said: “It’s not the right deal for Oxfordshire – it is promising to build around 40 per cent more housing than the county actually needs.

“The promised funding is derisory but also immaterial, as it is fundamentally the wrong deal, committing Oxfordshire to provide housing to support London commuting at the cost of the countryside.”

She added: “Also there is no guarantee about what money will be available in the future for things like GP surgeries near new developments.

“With this deal we will be made to build houses we don’t need - setting out on that sort of growth projection is something the electorate should be consulted on.”