PLANS have been submitted to transform a former Cowley petrol station into 38 flats and houses but there are fears a lack of parking spaces will lead to a 'flood of vehicles' on nearby streets.

A consultation event was held by Oxford City Council, which owns the Between Towns Road site, in August to get residents’ feedback on the scheme.

At the time, city councillor for Cowley David Henwood had been in favour of the regeneration, highlighting in particular the benefits of widening and improving a 'dangerous' footpath that links St Omer Road to Between Towns Road.

However, he has now said he cannot support the formal application, submitted this week, given the potential impact on neighbouring residents due to a lack of parking spaces for the 35 flats.

Mr Henwood said:“Social housing is desperately needed, and in an ideal world this application would normally be welcome.

“The recent introduction of the ‘car-free’ Venue community hub in Cowley has born witness to residents simply parking cars in nearby streets. This is also true of the flats on Barnes Road, where little parking provision has created congestion in neighbouring streets.”

He said residents in St Omer Road had become ‘increasingly worried’ the same thing will happen outside their homes if this latest scheme goes ahead.

Mr Henwood added: “Some of the private dwellings will have garage provision; however this will not mitigate the flood of vehicles from 38 dwellings that this development will introduce to the area.” Initially the plans included a block of 39 flats which would ‘step up’ to either five or six storeys, as well as a row of four three-bedroom houses behind at the end of St Omer Road.

In the formal application this has now been reduced to a four or five storey block containing 35 flats.

The number of houses has also been reduced to three.There will be 50 per cent affordable housing, the majority of which will be social rent.

A design and access statement submitted with the application said the project would act as a 'bridge' between the residential north of the site and the non-residential Between Towns Road.

The document added: "Its positioning at the key intersection allows for the creation of a landmark neighbourhood building."

Last summer the former Murco Petroleum Ltd building was beset by problems to do with anti-social behaviour and squatters moving onto the site. Mr Henwood said he intends to hold a public meeting to discuss the application in the new year.

READ AGAIN: Concerns raised as squatters move into former Cowley garage

Building work is planned to start next summer, with a completion date of late 2020.