REFRESHED plans for a 140-home estate in Oxford have been submitted by a new developer.

Abbey Developments Limited has bought a parcel of land next to Littlemore Mental Health Centre, and is pursuing a previously-approved scheme to build houses and flats on the site.

The field, which is home to an Iron Age enclosure called a 'banjo', is located just past Heyford Hill Roundabout, behind Sainsbury's.

In March 2016 developer Vanderbilt Homes gained Oxford City Council's go-ahead to build the same number of homes there, but this was linked to an earlier planning application, for which permission has since lapsed.

Abbey Developments is now at the helm of the project, and has unveiled more details of its vision.

Documents sent to the council by architects state: "The new design follows the evolution of the current approved scheme, which takes account of the identified constraints and opportunities, but also improves the circulation and design.

"The site is relatively isolated from other housing in the area and so can create its own unique identity – particularly in the use of the flats to provide landmark buildings and the grouping of dwellings around the central public open space."

It said the layout provided the necessary amount of privacy and the open space would preserve archaeological remains of the banjo.

The triangular-shaped site is bordered by the A4074, from which an access road would be built, the railway line, and Littlemore Mental Health Hospital.

Housing is split between five three-storey blocks of flats and houses – detached, semi-detached and terraced – ranging from two to three storeys in height.

Half of the homes are designated as 'affordable housing', the majority of which would be two-bedroom apartments.

The developer has also allocated 36 homes for social housing and 25 homes for affordable key worker housing.

Parking would also be provided with 262 car parking spaces and 224 bike spaces.

Nearby householders largely welcomed Vanderbilt's version of the scheme, though councillor John Tanner has said in the past that its success would hinge on sufficient transport links and school places.

The site is outlined for development in a city council housing plan adopted in 2013, which lists the Littlemore site as suitable for residential development but warns "it could be very segregated from neighbouring communities".

It adds: "It is essential that pedestrian and cycle access to the site is improved so that new residents can easily reach facilities in Littlemore. This could include a new access across the railway.

"For security reasons these links could not be provided through the adjacent Littlemore Mental Health Centre site."

The city council is due to decide on the new plan by March 8. To view and comment on it, search the council's website for 17/03050/FUL.