LONG-awaited work to add south-facing slips to the Lodge Hill A34 junction may only be possible if more than 1,600 homes are allowed north of Abingdon.

David Nimmo Smith, the county council's transport boss, said the £13m scheme would need to be funded at least in part by developer contributions because there was "very little free money around".

His comments came as plans were unveiled for 900 homes on Green Belt land north of Dunmore Road and Twelve Acre Drive.

In what would be the town's largest development for decades, the proposals include a primary school, shops, community facilities, sports fields, children's play areas, 'wildlife corridors' and improvements for pedestrian and cycling routes.

It would also contribute part of an overall £4m that developers are expected to put towards the Lodge Hill scheme, which would allow drivers to join the A34's southbound carriageway from the junction.

Other cash would come from the builders of 240 homes proposed at Radley, 270 at Kennington and another 200 on fields near the junction of Dunmore Road and Wooton Road.

Mr Nimmo Smith said: "It is a similar situation to the Milton Interchange, which was recently finished, where investment from the local area was needed to bring the scheme forward.

"Clearly in Abingdon we would also need to address more than just the Lodge Hill slip roads to make sure the rest of the network could deal with any new developments.

"But there is very little free money around, so we will need to tie it to housing and development if all the pieces can fall into place."

The scheme for 900 homes north of Abingdon would contribute about £2m towards the Lodge Hill scheme, developers said.

This week people had their first chance to view a 'masterplan' for the housing proposals in two public exhibitions. The development would be built in four stages over a period of about 10 years, starting in 2018.

Iain MacSween, of CEG, one of the partners of the scheme, said: "We know this is the most significant development in Abingdon for quite some time, so it is important to ask people what they want to see."

About 400 people went along to the first exhibition at Trinity Church, Conduit Road, on Saturday.

Concerns focused on the traffic impact the development would have, along with the loss of protected Green Belt land.

Retired Bruce Turner, of Lovelace Close, said a secondary school was needed as well as a primary school.

The 73-year-old added: "Houses need to be built, but frankly this is Green Belt land and the point of that is to stop this kind of thing."

And Rob Searle, an employee of Thames Water, said: "The biggest issue is traffic. This doesn't take into account the town as a whole, where the situation is already bad.

"It would also take 10 years. That is a lot of disruption."

But new dad Imran Qureshi, 37, a software tester, said he would support the proposals if road improvements were made.

He said: "My concern is Dunmore Road, but Lodge Hill could make a big difference because it would alleviate traffic coming from there."

Mum-of-two Fiona Topp, of North Abingdon, said: "They look like nice homes but I am not sure it is realistic to expect local people to be able to buy them.

"The infrastructure would also need to be addressed, because at the moment it is dangerous for children cycling to school.

"If they can sort that out, then I think this is a good idea."

Others consultations on the plans are planned in September, with a formal planning application likely to be lodged before Christmas, Mr MacSween said.

For information visit northabingdonconsultation.com