A CONTROVERSIAL development featuring up to 91 homes and a care complex is likely to get the go-ahead.

Plans to build on land west of Shilton Road, Burford, were delegated to planning officers to approve by West Oxfordshire district councillors at a meeting last week.

An application was rejected unanimously back in August 2015 after attracting more than 400 objections, but an appeal by Hallam Land Management Ltd in January 2017 was successful.

Despite several groups raising concerns with the site, West Oxfordshire District Council's area development manager Phil Shaw said the development would be approved if these were addressed.

Richard Shute, speaking on behalf of the Burford Shilton Road Residents Association, told the meeting he felt the decision should be deferred due to the amount of 'unknowns', although one councillor's motion to defer later failed.

He was especially concerned with the quality of landscaping and the applicant’s intention to remove a dry stone wall around the site, although this is one area covered in the amended plans.

Mr Shute said: “It’s taken 24 months to get this far - another month or two in our view is surely not too much to ask.”

The district council received 427 objections to the proposal back in 2015, including from Burford Golf Club, the Burford Chamber of Trade and Burford Garden Company, which is opposite the site.

The scheme included a care and retirement complex featuring a 90-bed care home and 78 assisted or supported living homes, although these numbers have been revised down to 64 and 59 respectively.

Fifty per cent of homes would be affordable and split into three areas of the site, while the care home design is 'inspired' by a manor house and house designs 'dictated' by the look of Cotswold buildings.

Burford Garden Company wrote last month that while it 'does not object' to the development, it had several concerns.

It mentioned the impact on traffic on Shilton Road, a lack of resident parking and the proposed use of liquefied petroleum gas to provide heating and hot water.

Mr Shaw said: “Members resolved to give authority to officers to approve the application subject to the resolution of a number of technical issues and minor design changes. These have been discussed with the applicant’s agent who anticipates tabling revised or additional information for us to consider shortly.

“Assuming the amended details address the concerns we raised, then the next steps would be to draft the decision notice including the conditions to be applied and issue the planning permission.”