Final agreement has been given to developers in Oxfordshire planning to build the UK's first 'eco-town'.

The official go-ahead comes after permission was given to NW Bicester last August but developers and interested parties took time to negotiate on the details.

NW Bicester in conjunction with developers A2Dominion is an exciting project to plan and build an eco settlement to the highest standards of sustainability – in construction techniques, energy, transport and biodiversity, creating a place to live, work and play.

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Construction on the first phase of the 5,000-home scheme, including a school and an Eco Business Centre can now begin and is expected to get underway later in the year.

Councillor Michael Gibbard, Cherwell District Council's lead member for planning, said: "We have made sure that the first Exemplar phase of development at NW Bicester will set the scene for what follows.

"We are proud that the scheme will include many unique features to reduce the impact of the new development on the environment."

The houses are designed to be "zero-carbon" and all have photovoltaic panels and significant levels of insulation.

Steve Hornblow, NW Bicester project director for A2Dominion, said: "This is an ambitious project which will create a truly unique development.

"NW Bicester approaches sustainable living realistically, providing people with the tools to benefit from a real community environment, reduced home running costs and the latest green technologies."

(HMc)