A DEAL that could see Oxford's neighbours take on thousands of homes has been condemned as a "stitch-up".

The Campaign to Protect to Rural England (CPRE) said plans to share 15,000 houses across the rest of the county were "fundamentally undemocratic".

It has been proposed by the Oxfordshire Growth Board, a committee on which the only voting members are six council leaders.

They have been negotiating for more than two years, after Oxford City Council said it did not have space to deliver 15,000 of the 28,000 new homes it was forecast to need by 2031.

The board will meet on Monday to decide how much the four district councils should each take on.

But Dr Helena Whall, the CPRE's Oxfordshire campaign manager, said: "This is not about meeting the housing needs of existing residents, but trying to anticipate what might be needed to accommodate the vast numbers of extra people to take up new jobs that may or may not be created.

"None of this proposed development will make the slightest difference to those struggling to find affordable accommodation."

Dr Whall raised concerns about a list of possible housing sites drawn up as part of several county-wide studies, which council leaders have insisted is not binding.

She claimed district councils would have "about as much room for manoeuvre as a rat in a trap" when preparing a Local Plan, blueprints for where development can take place, if they signed up to the figures.

Sites singled out for at least 1,000 homes include land south of Grenoble Road, Oxford, land north of Abingdon, land between Oxford and Kidlington and land north of Eynsham.

Dr Whall added: "How can a council, whose leader has signed this off at the growth board, then speak out against inclusion of one of these sites in a Local Plan?

"This is a great Oxfordshire housing stitch-up."

Her comments came as analysis by a major planning consultancy suggested the agreement could lead to the creation of some 1,800 construction jobs.

Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners said the building work would also plough £371.4m into the economy, with councils set to gain more than £26m in council tax revenue.

Senior director Daniel Lampard said a lack of lower-priced homes in the county currently was making it difficult for businesses to recruit staff.

He added: "There is not only a need for homes to support the economy, it will also generate jobs.

"If we are going to maintain economic growth in a period of uncertainty then we need to be able to provide a work force.

"At the moment we are not keeping up with demand."

Ian Hudspeth, county council leader and growth board chairman, said: "Housing is a major issue in Oxfordshire, with no easy answers, so it’s important that we all work together.

"It is welcome news the Oxfordshire Growth Board now has a county-wide evidence base needed to consider a fair and sustainable way to share Oxford’s housing need."