PLANS for a new hotel on a major Oxford road have been branded ‘intrusive’ and ‘soulless’ by neighbours.

Witney-based firm Ede Homes want to demolish the rundown Victoria Hotel on Abingdon Road and replace it with a 43-bed development.

The proposals would add a third storey to the building and almost triple the number of rooms, but several residents say the design is 'out of character' with the area.

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April Jones, who lives on Wytham Street, wrote on Oxford City Council’s planning portal: “Abingdon Road is unusually pleasant and pretty for such a busy road: the development would seriously compromise this with such a generic and soulless building.”

Hannah Prescott, a resident on nearby Summerfield, called the plans a ‘gross invasion’ of her family’s privacy, adding: “We have a tiny garden, so our view is important to us.

“This hotel would leave us trapped and fenced in by a building that is a whole story larger than my own home.”

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Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society claims the proposals ignore Abingdon Road's heritage, with the southern part of the site dating back to the mid-19th century.

The Victoria Hotel shut last August after a host of problems, including a one star rating from Oxford City Council’s food hygiene team and evidence of asbestos and rats at the property.

It had just 16 rooms, but the new plans boast a design that will 'lift Abingdon Road', according to Ede Homes director, Daniel Ede.

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He added that the hotel would have a flat roof, while no window would be less than 20m from another residence.

On-site parking spaces would rise from 17 to 19 and there would be no restaurant, kitchen or bar.

The hotel's planning application says it would generate off-site spending of about £5.5m per year and create 39 new jobs.

As of yesterday, there were 21 letters of objection online and just two in favour.

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Ede Homes designed the Oxford Spires hotel opposite the site and Mr Ede insisted his firm would 'work with' neighbours.

He said: "While there are some three or four storey buildings on Abingdon Road, we want to be sensitive to houses either side.

"We thought it would be nice to have a building that's different to a typical Abingdon Road property."