A FINAL plea to delay the approval of plans for a major science park in North Oxford was unsuccessful last night.

At a full meeting of Oxford City Council, councillors passed the Northern Gateway “area action plan” for the site south of the Pear Tree interchange.

The document is a key blueprint for the proposed development and was backed by a Government planning inspector last month after an inquiry was held.

The plan is expected to create thousands of jobs and allows for a hotel, 90,000 sq m of employment space and 500 homes, with developers set to bring forward detailed proposals later this year.

John Semple, of the Upper Wolvercote Action Group, claimed the development would worsen air pollution.

He told the meeting: “We have run our own extensive air quality tests through recognised laboratories and found that in many residential areas affected by the development, Nitrogen Dioxide levels are in breach of statutory legislation.

“Particulate levels are also in breach of these limits.

“In view of recent road and building schemes being overturned due to a breach of permitted pollutant levels, there is a very real threat of legal action being taken against this scheme, costing the city council significant sums of money.”

City council executive board member for planning Alex Hollingsworth said: “The inspector explicitly considered the issue of air quality both in the context of impact upon the natural environment and in the context of impact upon human health.

“The claims regarding levels do not accord with the evidence available to the council.”