A DECISION on the £20m Castle Mill boatyard redevelopment has been put off – just a day before councillors were to debate it.

Oxford City Council was tonight meant to hear proposals to redevelop the Castle Mill boatyard by developer Strategic Iconic Assets Heritage Acquisition Fund. The plans include a public square between St Barnabas Church and the Oxford Canal, a community centre, boatyard, nursery, restaurant and 22 homes.

But yesterday the council confirmed a decision on the scheme would be delayed until at least February 10 to give councillors time for a site visit.

In a statement, the council said: “We apologise for the late notice and for the inconvenience this late change to the agenda may cause.”

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The Oxford Mail understands the deferral was at the request of councillors on the west area planning committee, who will still sit tonight to consider other applications.

It came as residents’ group the Jericho Wharf Trust said it would not support the proposals until the developer promised to help pay for the community centre. Whilst it is part of the plans, the company has said the community should pay for it.

The two parties yesterday had still not reached agreement on the issue.

Trust chairwoman Phyllis Starkey said: “We are still negotiating with the developer over the terms for delivering the boatyard, the community centre and the open spaces. This process needs to be completed and included as part of the submission to committee members.

“Discussions are progressing well and it would be perfectly possible to agree terms within a reasonable period.

“This would allow the site to be developed with the full support of the community.”

The trust claimed the cost of the new community centre was pushed up from £5m to £6.6m because of its location above the planned boatyard.

It is understood the group has been trying to secure compensation from the developer for the estimated increase.

It wants it to transfer ownership of the proposed public square in front of St Barnabas Church to the community once the scheme is completed.

Last week the trust said the decision of council officers to recommend the current scheme – the third version of the plans submitted – for approval was “rushed”.

The scheme does not meet the city council policy for 50 per cent of homes to be affordable, but the council’s head of development Michael Crofton-Briggs said an exception should be made because of the amount of public facilities included.

It came after a viability report supported the developer’s claim that meeting city housing targets would make the scheme unviable.

Under the latest submitted version of the plans, 39 per cent of the 22 homes would be affordable.

Last night, SIAHAF spokes-man Nick Band said the firm was “very disappointed and considering its options”.

He said: “We have done everything we can to create a positive future for the site and we are hoping for the support of the community.”


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