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A MAJOR project doubling the population of Grove with 2,500 new homes could be put on hold because of the credit crunch.

A planning application by Persimmon Homes to build on Grove airfield project had been expected in September. But the housebuilder has confirmed it wants to review the project - which would have double the number of people in the area to 16,000 - over the next few months to decide whether or not it is "commercially viable".

Managers at the firm have axed 2,000 jobs nationally since the start of the year, and blamed the downturn in the housing market on low confidence as customers struggle to get mortgages.

Paul Davis, strategic land director at Persimmon Homes, said: "In making sure that our business is in step with slower housing market conditions, we will maintain a strong position. It is of course impossible to predict how the housing market will develop over the next few months, and we will react accordingly when the market improves.

"One of the sites we have prioritised in our review is the delivery of the Grove airfield project. We plan to allocate appropriate resources to the scheme, provided we are able to arrive at what we consider to be a commercially viable scheme.

"To help us reach this decision, we have embarked on a series of meetings with relevant parties."

A planning application for the site could still be submitted before the end of the year.

The project has already been delayed by almost two years while talks over various aspects of the proposals have continued.

Frank Parnell, chairman of Grove Parish Council, said: "It will please a lot of people if it doesn't go ahead. We were always unsure if it was in the right place.

"But what we don't want is a sort of halfway house in terms of infrastructure if it does go ahead, that's our biggest concern.

"We are always the last to know anything, and the residents feel left in the dark."

Kate Laybourne, 43, of North Drive, Grove, said: "Considering the problems we've had with flooding over the last 12 months, I welcome the news.

"Even if we didn't have problems, I would still be concerned over a small village having that size of development."

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

Geoff Chown, of Mayfield Avenue, said he was pleased the development might be put on hold because of his concerns over the flood 'risk' to Grove.

Retired physicist Don Summers, of Hawthorn Crescent, said local people would welcome the news because of the flooding problems which have affected the village.

The airfield site is earmarked for housing in the Vale of White Horse District Council Local Plan, the county Structure Plan, and the South East England Development Agency's strategy. The first batch of 500 homes was originally proposed by 2011.

3:00pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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