A major new hotel for Oxford has been backed in principle by city councillors.

The Four Pillars Group, which already has hotels in Abingdon, Witney and Sandford-on-Thames, wants to build a 115-room hotel at Eastwyke Farm, off Abingdon Road.

Oxford City Council planners yesterday asked for more details on the proposals - but welcomed the prospect of a hotel on the green belt site.

The chairman of the committee, Maureen Christian, said: "I think we should give a clear indication that we are in favour of this particular application.

"Oxford is under-resourced with hotel accommodation and I think it is not beyond our want as a planning committee to edge this in with as many conditions as we want. Otherwise the whole plan might fall by the way side."

Eastwyke Farm lies in water meadows close to the River Thames. Until the mid-80s it was occupied by Alden's supermarket and freezer centre and before that was a working farm.

The new three-storey development would include 75 guest rooms, conference rooms, a restaurant and a swimming pool. There would also be 40 self-contained 'suites' for guests.

The city council has received several letters from local residents, with major concerns raised about the loss of rural land and the impact of extra traffic.

Councillors main concerns surround the size of a planned 115-space car park at the site and the height and design of buildings.

Mrs Christian said: "It would be a tremendous asset to Oxford but this is an extremely sensitive site and we need to get it right."

A final decision on planning permission was deferred for the hotel group to produce more detailed plans.

The Oxford Preservation Trust and the Oxford Civic Society also support the plans in principle.

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