Oxford University's bid to build a £29m book depository on the Osney Mead industrial estate looks set to be decided in early May.

Last November, city councillors refused the scheme planning permission because of concerns over possible flooding problems and the impact the building could have on views of the city's dreaming spires.

The refusal overturned a strategic development control committee decision to grant planning permission in September.

The university has appealed against the latest decision as it sees the site as crucial to the long-term future of the world-famous Bodleian Library.

Negotiations are being finalised to stage a planning inquiry with a two-week hearing at Oxford Town Hall, which is expected to settle the matter.

Colin Cook, Labour city councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: "I expect to be asked to attend the hearing as one of three councillors who supported the case for refusing planning permission.

"Councillors will be asked to support their reasons for refusing the scheme.

"The inquiry will give both sides the chance to go through the arguments in greater detail and I would expect the matter to be settled by the inquiry."

The council's barrister, Robert McCracken, and the university's barrister, Keith Lindblom, are both available from May 5 or May 12 - and the dates have been suggested to the Planning Inspectorate.

Four reasons cited by councillors in their refusal will be examined at the inquiry. They were:

  • Intrusion into the landscape setting of the city
  • The building being detrimental to historic views
  • Failure to meet minimum requirements on energy efficiency
  • Failure to look properly at other sites which don't flood.

The Bodleian is keen for an inquiry to go ahead as soon as possible because it is running out of space for its books, with the university acquiring 5,000 a week.

At present, the university pays £360,000 a year to store millions of books at a disused salt mine in Cheshire, but the cost is set to rise to £450,000 this year.

There is also a Bodleian store in Nuneham Courtenay with 1.3 million volumes.

The new building would hold up to eight million volumes, and would be built alongside plans to refurbish the New Bodleian in Broad Street.

Oxford University declined to comment.