Controversial plans for a canalside housing development have unanimously been given the green light by council planners, writes Nick Evans.

Berkeley Homes wants to build houses on the Unipart site off Woodstock Road, north Oxford, but scaled down its plans after a public outcry. An application to build 80 houses and 180 flats on the west side of the canal, with 323 parking and 150 cycling spaces, along with a bridge over the canal, met with opposition from local people who said it was too big and would spoil the views across Port Meadow. Now the company's amended plans for 104 houses and 104 flats, 281 parking spaces and 130 cycle spaces, plus a wildlife corridor and a public open space, have been accepted by Oxford City Council's planning committee, on the condition that Berkeley Homes meets certain conditions. Two aspects which council members are unhappy about is the amount of affordable housing the company is proposing to include and the height of some of the buildings.

Meanwhile, a planning appeal for Berkeley Homes's larger scheme will be held next month.