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Blenheim aristocrat's 500 homes plan ‘could cause traffic congestion'
An aristocrat who owns one of the country's most famous stately homes is embroiled in a row with locals over building 500 homes on his land.
James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough, wants to build the new homes close to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Blenheim Estate Homes, the estate's housing operation, said the plans would 'encourage community integration and social cohesion'.
In planning documents submitted to Cherwell District Council, the company added that the plans consist of 'high-quality new homes which will include a range of house types, sizes and tenures to deliver market and affordable housing for young people, families and the elderly.'
But locals have expressed concerns that the plans could overwhelm local infrastructure and cause traffic congestion problems.
'Unsustainable and harmful expansion'
The Campaign to Protect Old Woodstock, a residents' campaign group that aims to protect the leafy market town from over development and damage to its natural environment and heritage, told the Telegraph the plans could also impact the Blenheim Estate as well as local health and school facilities.
The 11,500-acre palace and its vast grounds, granted Unesco world heritage status in 1987, are owned by the Duke, who is the great nephew of Sir Winston Churchill. The day-to-day running is taken care of by a board of trustees, which also oversees Blenheim Estate Homes.
Claudio Calvino, who lives in Woodstock, said: 'This development represents an unsustainable and harmful expansion that would irreversibly damage Woodstock's character, overwhelm its services, and create significant environmental and heritage risks.'
Another local, Anne Cooper, said the plans were 'absolutely shameful' and added: 'Please, NO more. Oxfordshire is, or rather was, known as a beautiful RURAL county. Villages are desperately trying to retain their community values, but being overwhelmed by vast numbers of new housing estates.'
Ulrike Parkinson, a fellow local resident, added: 'Woodstock has reached saturation point regarding infrastructure and traffic, and the town cannot cope with any further development.'
James Carr, who lives in the leafy market town, indicated that the Blenheim Estate said the plans were 'out of touch' and said: 'Historic landowners making out of touch plans, chasing revenue generation, should be consigned to the past and not the future.'
Owen Davies, who also lives in the town, said: 'The population has doubled in size, but none of the infrastructure has. The GP was already at capacity before any of the new developments, but now it's overwhelmed and has literally fallen apart. Both schools are oversubscribed. The Co-op is not fit for the number of people who need to buy food, so everyone has to go further afield for a full shop. This is now 1000s of people without adequate, accessible food supply and services.'
Concerns were addressed 'openly and honestly'
Woodstock town council, of which the Duke is a member, also objected to the plans and wrote: 'The farmland and parkland surrounding Blenheim are essential to understanding and appreciating its historic character. Development would urbanise this landscape. This proposal represents unsustainable, unplanned, and harmful development.'
Meanwhile, the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board called for a financial contribution to be made from the estate to 'co-fund the extension/re-configuration of healthcare provision'.
But other locals claimed Blenheim Senior Management addressed concerns 'openly and honestly' at a recent residents' meeting.
Cherwell District Council will ultimately decide whether the planning application is successful by September.
In planning documents, Blenheim Estate Homes argues: '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.' The application also says the development will provide a mix of house types and tenures, including a target of 35 per cent affordable housing.
The estate previously angered locals over plans for one of the UK's biggest solar farms, which could provide enough energy to power 330,000 homes, on the estate.
The plan is being backed by the family of the Duke of Marlborough and, in particular, by his eldest son George, who stands to inherit the estate.
Conservationists also previously raised concerns about plans to bring a golden sculpture called the Gilded Cage, representing the struggle of refugees in the modern world, to the estate.
