HISTORIC buildings from the 1800s that made up the former Cherwell Iron Works could be demolished.

Banbury company Swan Foundry Ltd, which owns the site, wants to replace the buildings in Canal Street with six industrial units.

The current red brick structures are on the Local List for historical interest and since 2013 have been included within the council’s Oxford Canal Conservation Area.

The planning application to Cherwell District Council says: “The proposed building will be clad externally in red brick” and “have a natural slate roof finish”.

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But Rob Kinchin-Smith, chairman of the Banbury Civic Society, said the proposed buildings were “dressed up as Victorian lookalikes”.

He said: “What the buildings stand for in terms of Banbury’s history is heavily significant.

“If this is converted it sends out the message that all you need to do is neglect a building in the conservation area for long enough, and you can demolish it.”

The buildings form part of an industrial heartland that once stretched from Morrisons to Bridge Street.

They were built in 1862 by local engineer and millwright Joseph Kirby and Tipton coal-master Thomas Barrows.

With about 100 employees, the site was one of Banbury’s three largest employers.

From 1855 it produced portable steam engines, steam ploughing machinery, threshing machines, mortar mills and pumping engines for coal mines.

Mr Kinchin-Smith added that he hoped Swan Foundry would reconsider its plans for the site.

He said: “This could be a development that really helps Canalside go from being improbable to something that is happening.”

Plans received no objection from the Environment Agency in late February. The parish council and Canal and River Trust also had no objection.

The target date for deciding the planning application is Monday, March 23, with a deadline of Monday, April 27.

No one from Swan Foundry was available for comment.