Residents are pressing for councillors to refuse plans for flats because they fear they would cause traffic problems, overload the sewage system and threaten rare long-eared owls on a neighbouring nature reserve.

A decision on whether to grant planning permission for 18 two-bedroom flats and 27 car parking spaces proposed for Shotover Mound, Spring Lane, Headington Quarry, was deferred by members of Oxford City Council's north east area committee on Tuesday.

Kris Skalka, the architect working on behalf of applicant J Atiyah, said the plans had been made in consultation with various agencies.

Peter Crook, 53, of Spring Lane, told the committee: "I live at the top end of Spring Lane and I don't believe we can guarantee access to my house for the emergency services if this goes ahead.

"Cars are parked all over the place and another 27 spaces will not help.

"We have Stansfeld nature reserve adjacent to us, and have badgers and other creatures coming into our garden.

"Ninety-five per cent of residents are not in favour of this and if necessary they will get a petition together." Lawrence Kelly, of Friends of Quarry residents' group, said: "New flats mean more people driving through the narrow streets of Quarry.

"Residents have spotted long-eared owls on the nature reserve, and it's difficult to believe that a three-storey building housing up to 70 people wouldn't affect their habitat."

Mr Skalka said: "This application was made after fairly extensive consultations with planning officers.

"There have been consultations with the Environment Agency and the county council's highways officers."

Councillors agreed to defer making a decision until they have visited the site.