MORE than 400 homes will be built in Henley after South Oxfordshire District Council’s core strategy was approved by an independent planning inspector.

Six sites with a total estimated capacity of up to 525 houses have been identified as “suitable in principle” — Highlands Farm, Drawback Hill, land off the Fair Mile, Gillotts School, Empstead Works and Treetops.

Half of the proposed housing may only be available to elderly or disabled people due to the £40 million care village plan for Highlands Farm.

The district council says the strategy will ensure new development is carefully planned and of high quality. Councillor Angie Paterson, cabinet member for planning, said: “We welcome the inspector’s finding that our strategy is sound.

“We have worked extremely hard to ensure that we get the balance right when allocating homes across the district. Now we have got the green light for our core strategy, we can move forward with implementing it in the best interests of the whole district.”

Henley Town Council will create a neighbourhood plan to try to influence what development takes place and where.

Harpsden Parish Council decided against committing to the Henley plan.

Chairman Kester George has called the core strategy “madness” and suggested it would put pressure on the infrastructure.

Published 25/10/12