THE biggest development ever built in Wantage and Grove is being held up at the 11th hour because one landowner is holding out for more money, it is claimed.

The district council is now talking about using a compulsory purchase order to force the sale which could the delay the process for up to three years.

The 2,500-home Grove Airfield estate was granted planning permission in December 2013.

But developers Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon now need to persuade the 14 landowners to part with their land.

The companies said in July 2014 they were weeks away from signing the final deal, but this month it was revealed they are still trying to persuade one landowner to agree.

Matt Barber, leader of planning authority the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “They won’t sign because they’re holding out for a bit more money – at least that’s the assumption on my part because why else would they refuse to sign?”

The problem specifically relates to a document called a “section 106 agreement”.

This sets out exactly how much money will change hands and how much the developers will contribute to the cost of local schools, roads and public facilities – about £50m in total.

The estate, due to include a new secondary school, two new primaries, new shops and community facilities, is a major part of the Vale’s strategic plan for development.

The council needs to prove to the Government it is building enough houses to meet demand at its own chosen sites or it will have to grant permission to developments at sites it would rather not see developed.

The delay was revealed by the Vale’s head of planning Adrian Duffield at a town and parish forum.

He said if the landowner continued to refuse to sell, the Vale would look at seeking a compulsory purchase order – a legal tool which allows authorities to obtain land without the consent of the owner.

Mr Barber said it was not an option he relished and he hoped it would not come to that.

He said: “It is incredibly expensive and we would have to go through the courts – I can see it being a complete nightmare. We would have to know for certain that this agreement wasn’t going to get signed, and I don’t think we’re at that stage yet.”