A PLAN to move a city centre bookmakers into an empty shop unit has been pulled.

Jesus College got permission to move Ladbrokes into St Michael’s Mansions, in Ship Street, last December.

The college wanted it to stay there for at least five years but the city council said that would have been too long. They were expected to negotiate a compromise.

Read again: Ladbrokes to move city centre shop

Ladbrokes had originally been in the college’s Northgate House building in Cornmarket Street, but it was moved out so multi-million pound renovation work could start there.

Jesus College’s application was opposed by some of its students and the Oxford Civic Society. It said the Central Conservation Area would have been harmed.

The college had wanted to move the bookmakers into the former Russell and Bromley shop, opposite the Grade I listed Church of St Michael at the Northgate. The unit has been empty since autumn 2017.

Read again: Row over plan to move Ladbrokes as huge new building is created

Ladbrokes already has several units in Oxford. They are in Gloucester Street and St Aldates, along with others in Banbury Road, Summertown; London Road, Headington; Cowley Road; Iffley Road, and in Barnes Road and Hollow Way, Cowley.