A housing chief has defended plans to build on greenbelt land north of Oxford saying accusations of "greed rather than need" could not be "further from the truth".

The 24-home development at Wolvercote, north of Goose Green Close, was submitted to the city council for review in February.

Those against the proposals say the new homes would cause traffic "chaos" and would add to "overdevelopment of the area".

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But city council cabinet member for housing, Linda Smith, said: "The accusation of this scheme being about 'greed not need' could not be further from the truth.

Oxford Mail: Linda Smith.Linda Smith. (Image: Contribution.)

"The development at Goose Green is being brought forward by OXPlace, the city council's wholly owned residential development company.

"The new homes are very much about addressing Oxford's need for new homes.

"Half of the 24 new homes will be affordable, mainly for social rent from the city council but there will also be shared ownership homes and discounted properties for first time buyers.

"Profits from OxPlace are returned to the city council as a dividend.

"This funding model has allowed Oxford City Council to set balanced budgets while continuing our investment in making Oxford a fairer, greener city with support available for the most vulnerable, despite the savage cuts to local government funding since 2010.

Oxford Mail: An illustration of proposed development.An illustration of proposed development. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"The Goose Green development, like other OXPlace schemes which have already been delivered or are in the pipeline, is absolutely about addressing Oxford's need and greed has no place in it."

The Labour councillor added the development was not part of the wider Oxford North initiative but that the Goose Green Close site lies adjacent to it and the homes would be built to a design which "fits in with the nearby Oxford North homes".

The £700m Oxford North development is expected to deliver 480 new homes, one million sq ft of laboratory and workspaces to the city's northern boundary.

"Vehicle access to the new Goose Green homes will be through the Oxford North site, not via the village of Wolvercote," she said.

Oxford Mail: Goose Green Close.Goose Green Close. (Image: Google Maps.)

"I hope this reassures villagers concerned about additional traffic and parking pressures."

A planning statement adds the proposed development is a "high-quality design" and has taken reference from local design characteristics and materials to "tie the proposed development back to the Oxford vernacular, as well as directly reflecting the house typology of the canalside scheme".

Objector Paul Ballard-Whyte said: "If people vote for Labour or Socialist councils this is what they will get - mass housing anywhere and everywhere - just build over the green spaces with low-cost blocks of flats and then reap the 'rewards' at the next election.

"It's the oldest political trick in the book - you get what you vote for."