DEVELOPERS hoping to overhaul the Castle Mill boatyard in Jericho faced another delay this week as their plans were overlooked by Town Hall planners again.

Johnny Sandelson, Strategic Iconic Assets Heritage Acquisition Fund (SIAHAF) chief executive, has said he hopes to get the redevelopment approved by Christmas.

But it emerged this week that the plans are again not to be considered at the latest meeting of Oxford City Council’s West Area planning committee, on November 12. That means the earliest they could now be considered is the meeting on December 10.

The plans were first submitted on May 13 and the time limit given to councils for “large or complex” applications is 13 weeks.

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As the plans are to be considered more than 30 weeks after originally being submitted, this leaves the scheme open to an appeal through the Planning Inspectorate.

The Oxford Mail understands SIAHAF has no intentions to pursue that option yet.

Spokesman Nick Band said: “We are confident that the application will be heard before Christmas and the outcome will be something for us all to celebrate.”

The redevelopment would see a new public square created in front of St Barnabas Church, bordered by a boatyard, community centre, cafe, restaurant and luxury homes. Civic groups have raised concerns about the proposed height of a community centre and below-required amounts of affordable housing included.


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