PLANS for a controversial heating pipe in Headington have been declared "invalid" by Oxford City Council.

The application for the project - which would connect the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals - has now been suspended over confusion as to whether Oxfordshire County Council own the affected land.

Patsy Dell, head of planning and regulatory services for the council, said: "The retrospective planning application to install an energy pipe between Churchill and John Radcliffe Hospitals has been declared invalid.

"This is because the necessary notifications relating to the ownership of the land have not been carried out in accordance with the mandatory requirements.

"Specifically, it is our understanding that Oxfordshire County Council may not own all of the highway land where the pipeline would be installed.

"As a result, the application cannot progress until further information is provided or a revised application form has been submitted."

City Councillor Ruth Wilkinson said she believes the process has been a "disaster from beginning to end" after Vital Energi were forced to fill in trenches they had dug to install the pipes before applying for permission.

She said: "It really is quite something to have ended up in this situation and I'm not sure where we go from here.

"The earliest time we're going to be able to discuss the application further is May."

Oxford Mail have been unable to reach Vital Energi for a comment.