AMENDMENTS to plans for a 140-bed hotel next to Oxford Castle show ‘complete contempt’ for the city’s heritage and are still too big, according to campaigners.

The proposed £30m hotel on the corner of Paradise Street and St Thomas’ Street initially included the demolition of the Brewery Gate and Old Horse Hospital – which dates back to the 19th century.

Scaled-down plans, retaining the historic buildings, were also objected to by residents and campaigners over its bulk and scale and now a third set of plans from developer Dominvs have received similar treatment.

But Historic England has now withdrawn its objection saying that given the need to create enough rooms to make it commercially viable, it was the ‘best that can be achieved.’

The Save the Brewery Gate campaign group, set up after the first plans were submitted in 2015, said the hotel plan was still too large.

Dr James Ross, from the group, said: “The revised proposal’s height and bulk is essentially unchanged, a massive six-storey building dominating the area and towering over historic Lower Fisher Row and The Lion Brewery.

“The exterior alterations replace stone with brick and include minor changes to the sides, but do nothing to hide the oversized scale.

He added: “It is important this application does not get planning permission through attrition.”

The most recent set of plans have set the hotel further back from the road and reduced the height of the side extensions of the building. More greenery has also been added to the roof.

Dominvs said it would help reduce the view and impact from Quaking Bridge and Woodin’s Way.

Former principal planning officer at Oxford City Council, Judy Chipchase, said: “I note that the Brewery Gate and Old Horse Hospital are now not being demolished and the important visual gateway to St Thomas Street will be retained.

“But this proposal shows a complete contempt for Oxford’s historical, visual and cultural heritage.

“It is an affront to the significance of St George’s Tower, which in my opinion is as important to Oxford as any of the colleges.”

The concept of a hotel – replacing the Cooper Callas building – has been widely welcomed throughout the various consultation processes but concerns have been raised over its size.

Historic England welcomed the changes and said it now looked ‘much calmer and more coherent’ with the landscape so was an improvement on the Cooper Callas building.

The organisation’s inspector of historic buildings and areas, Richard Peats, said: “The revisions to the east elevation, particularly the use of brick throughout, have significantly improved this elevation.

“Revisions to the green roof are also likely to soften the visual impact of the building in views from St George’s Tower and the Castle Mound.”

He added: “While the design has not succeeded in creating a top storey that positively contributes to Oxford’s roofscape, it at least hides it bulk reasonably well. Given the constraints of the site, particularly the need to create enough rooms to make the project commercially viable without obscuring views, this is likely the best that can be achieved.”

Dominvs Group failed to respond to a request for comment.