A planned new Oxford health centre has been backed by city councillors.

Members of the south east area supported the proposed development of disused former farm land in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, despite opposition from their own planning officer, Andy King.

He said: "We always wanted a green swathe to run through the brook. This building takes up so much of the site we simply don't have enough room for the odd tree. Quite frankly that's not good enough."

Oxford Primary Care Trust has amended its plans for the centre, which would replace Blackbird Leys Health centre in Blackbird Leys Road.

But Mr King said the design was still not good enough for a landmark site and would not stand out or echo the materials and scale of buildings on the rest of the estate. He also said the amount of proposed parking spaces had been cut.

Architect Julian Joy defended his work. He said: "I saw it very much as a cornerstone of the area. It was a missing piece of Greater Leys. The streetscape was not an issue. With light timbering it will have impact. But it's not a farm, it's not a house, it is what it is and we must control its future."

He added that most patients would get there by bus or walk, so parking was not an issue.

Blackbird Leys councillor Val Smith said: "I don't like to speak against our own planning department, but on this occasion, I do think they're wrong.

"The current centre is appalling. Me and my doctor sit knee to knee. It's a functional building. The land is a tip now. Whatever goes there will be an improvement."

Councillors backed the amended scheme on Monday but asked Oxford NHS Primary Care Trust to continue negotiations over the design with planning officers.

The council's strategic development control committee will make the final decision on whether the centre can be built at a meeting on January 28.

PCT spokesman Vicky Lamb said: "If permission is delayed, it would certainly delay any replacement of the existing centre. By how long is difficult to say."