AN EAST Oxford timber yard which has been for 92 years could be demolished after an “influx” of larger businesses into the city.

In April, the Oxford Mail reported that Montpelier Estates wanted to redevelop 474 Cowley Road, into a three-storey 60-bed care home with 20 car parking spaces, creating 70 jobs in the area.

The site is currently the home of timber merchant and hardware shop WG Powell, which has been trading since 1923, but has been forced to close after growing competition from larger businesses.

In a letter to the developers, director of commercial property consultants Venables Sherrott Lockhart and partners, Tom Barton, said: “The WG Powell business is a traditional business that in recent years has struggled to compete with the influx into Oxford of nationally-based businesses with their significant buying power and latest IT systems.”

In the design and access statement to Oxford City Council, developers added “the current business is not sustainable”.

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The statement read: “The economic need to use bulk transporters and quick easy access for deliveries into and from the premises has resulted in similar businesses relocating to out-of-city or ring-road purpose-built industrial areas with easy and economically viable premises and access.”

Montpelier Estates, which will invest £5m into the project, submitted an application to Oxford City Council for outline planning permission earlier this year, but have since amended their plans.

A decision will be announced in the coming weeks. Developers said the care home would cater for elderly city residents, including those with dementia Proposals include creating 60 en-suite bedrooms, as well as lounges, dining rooms, a hairdressers salon, cafe, laundry and kitchen.

The care home, which will operate 24 hours a day and take 15 months to build, will be staffed by six qualified nursing staff, 42 care assistants, 19 catering and household staff and three administration and maintenance workers.

Montpelier Estates’ James McGarry said staff would work in shift patterns to avoid peak traffic.

He added: “Redevelopment of the site as a care home is considered to be in the wider public interest. The majority of new jobs will be filled by local residents in view of the convenience between workplace and place of residence.”

Jo Hetherington-Reid, of Cowley Road, said she had “concerns” about the development behind her home.

She said: “I think W G Powell is a valuable community asset already and it is very sad that it may be developed. A care home would mean that parking would continue to be difficult at weekends, due to staff and visitors.”

Oxford city councillor for Cowley Marsh, Mohammed Abbasi, said he was worried there would be an increase in congestion.

He said: “I am just a little bit worried about the traffic because of people coming and visiting. I got a letter from the builders so I need to speak to them.”“The traffic is what I will discuss with them.”