Plans for waterside homes in Oxford have been rejected, with one councillor branding the developers "Scarlet Pimpernels".

Bellway Homes Ltd, backed by British Waterways, wanted to build 46 flats, a restaurant, a public square, a footbridge and a car park for 37 vehicles beside the Oxford Canal in Jericho.

But members of the city council's strategic development control committee unanimously refused the application after hearing protests from residents and Dr Evan Harrris, the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon.

Colin Cook, Labour councillor for Jericho and Osney, accused the developers of "ignoring development guidelines" for the area.

"These people are behaving like the Scarlet Pimpernels of the development world," he said. "We never see them at meetings and they can't be found. I believe that this shows the quality of the applicants before us.

"This application is way beyond the pale and we should reject it out of hand."

Dr Harris said: "The developers are offering 30 per cent affordable housing which is a joke.

"Jericho is a part of Oxford that needs a fair share of social housing. This was a big opportunity to engage in that issue and it has been missed."

Dr Harris pleaded with the council to make a "clear statement" on its policy and not to allow the scheme to go through because it would be sending out "all the wrong messages".

Jericho resident Emma Chapman feared boat repair facilities would be lost if the project went ahead.

"There's nothing else for 15 miles and boats would be in danger of sinking before getting help," she said.

Council officer Murry Hancock gave eight reasons for refusal, including inappropriate scale, design and siting of buildings,. and the absence of a legal agreement for a new community centre. Mr Hancock also said the buildings would have a detrimental impact on existing homes and the planned footbridge would lead to the loss of important trees in a conservation area.

He reported that the application involved the demolition of all buildings on the 1.23-acre site on the east side of the canal, stretching nearly 200 metres from Great Clarendon Street in the south to Whitworth Place in the north.

Dr Diane Green, English Heritage's inspector of historic buildings, South East region, said in a letter to the council that the scheme would be "detrimental", especially to St Barnabas Church and would constitute "over- development".

Bellway Homes declined to comment until it had decided its next move.