PLANS to demolish a former restaurant in North Oxford so that new homes can be built in its place have finally been approved by city councillors.

The Lemon Tree, in Woodstock Road, closed last August and for the past two years Clinton Pugh has been applying for planning permission to redevelop the site.

In December, councillors on the north area committee rejected the plans for the fourth time, but yesterday they approved the application for three three-storey, four-bed houses.

Mr Pugh said: “The delay has wasted thousands of pounds and a huge amount of energy but it’s a positive result in the end, and I am relieved.”

Summertown city councillor Jean Fooks said she had voted against the latest application because she felt it was still out of character with the surrounding area. She added: “We never said there should not be houses there and the applicant has finally come up with a proposal that councillors have been prepared to accept on balance.”

One of the previous schemes Mr Pugh submitted to the committee featured eight two-bedroom flats and a four-bedroom townhouse, and planners received a number of objections from residents during the past two years.

The Lemon Tree, a former pub, first opened in 1995 and quickly became one of the city's most popular restaurants.

In 2000, it was taken over and became La Gousse d'Ail. In 2003, Mr Pugh bought back the restaurant and reopened it under its old name.