A controversial canalside housing scheme has been given the go-ahead.

Developers Berkeley Homes were set stringent targets for the 208 new homes, off Woodstock Road, Oxford, by city planners.

These included improved safeguards for wildlife, homes to be screened from beauty spots and a mixture of private, social and affordable housing.

Chairman of the planning committee Cllr John Goddard said: "I rate this an excellent deal. It is a landmark for us in obtaining 36 affordable housing units on site."

Mr Goddard said that it avoided time and money on appeals and enshrined the improvements in the developer's revised scheme.

The Berkeley Homes plan is the second part of a three-phase development on land formerly part of Oxford Automotive Components. The developer has agreed :

*Twenty per cent of the housing will be let by registered social landlords and are to be made affordable on part ownership schemes.

*Trees will be planted along the boundary with Hook Meadow.

*Roof heights will be lowered.

*Traffic management will be improved.

*To make a 40,000 contribution towards bus services and new playing fields.

The decision will be finally approved at a future meeting of the full council.