Ambitious plans to transform an eyesore city centre building into a new housing complex and piazza have been backed by councillors, writes Mark Templeton.

Southgate Developments wants to demolish the BT offices in Paradise Street, Oxford and build 89 apartments on either side of the Wareham Stream. But the company will have to review the numbers of one, two and three bedroom flats after some councillors said the development would not attract families.

It will also have to look at plans to allow cars to drive through the planned square to get to parking spaces on the complex before full approval will be given.

The scheme will see a new footbridge built across the stream and a new public footpath from Osney Lane to Paradise Street. Labour councillor Colin Cook said he was concerned that 85 of the apartments would have one or two bedrooms, leaving just four three-bedroom flats. He said: "These shoebox developments are not the way forward."

Green councillor Mike Woodin backed the project, but said he would have liked to see the development totally car-free.

The project includes two food and drink outlets as well as a shop and a business unit.