PLANNERS have been accused of creating a ‘toxic atmosphere’ with Cowley residents over the approval of a controversial housing scheme.

City ward councillor David Henwood has now called in the decision, which was made by Oxford City Council's East Area Planning Committee last week, to allow 35 flats and three houses to be built on the site of a derelict Murco garage.

The city council, which owns the Between Towns Road site, put in an application in December for the land but neighbours shared concerns the ‘car-free’ proposals would lead to a ‘flood’ of vehicles on nearby St Omer Road.

Read our original story about residents full fears for the site

Mr Henwood, who highlighted a lack of parking as well as a shortage of family homes, said: “Planners acknowledge the current development is non-compliant with the core strategy, but consciously encouraged members to vote in favor of the application with no reference to housing mix at committee.

“Creating a blinkered and bias outcome that fails to meet Oxford housing need and will effectively turn the area of Cowley into a singles city."

Oxford Mail:

Street view from Between Towns Road

He added: “This approach to planning and side-stepping of local views in relation to delivering a car-free development, without a CPZ (Controlled Parking Zone) in place has created a toxic atmosphere with the people of Cowley.

“Indeed the formal consultation to deliver a CPZ in the area is yet to take place."

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The ‘car-free’ scheme, which has just six parking space for 38 new homes, had previously been branded a ‘complete fantasy’ by a resident Mark Watson.

Mr Henwood called in the decision on Friday evening and needs 11 other councillors to join him in order for the application to be scrutinised by the authority's Planning Review Committee.