THE scale of Oxford Station's £125m redevelopment has been increased to lure private investors after Network Rail warned there was a lack of funding for the project.

More commercial buildings have been added at the expense of parking spaces, and student flats could be built above the bus interchange to lure investors.

The rail firm also said Oxford City Council's draft guidelines for the scheme did not allow for future passenger growth – with the creation of just one new track.

But residents living nearby fear their neighbourhood could become a 'commercialised precinct' rather than a transport hub.

Oxford City Council has responded by making the scope 'more flexible' for developers who come forward, with no upper limit on commercial space to keep it on track.

The masterplan would create a new station building with east, west and south entrances, increase the number of tracks from four to six and add a new bus interchange, twice as much bicycle parking, shops, offices, a hotel and housing.

Network Rail's official response to the city council said: "It does not contain sufficient flexibility to encourage the potential development of the site or protect the long-term need of the railway.

"There is a lack of funding available from Network Rail or the city council for any future development of the station site.

"Its development will be dependent on private funding, which would be unduly constrained by this supplementary planning document."

Following the company's concerns, the council said the redevelopment was a 'top priority' and has widened its scope to attract funding.

Leader Bob Price said: "It has to be manageable for the landowners, Network Rail, so there is a lot of flexibility in the areas to the east of the station – it has to be commercially viable.

"But we are very robust about the western side of the station, which is close to a number of residential streets and we have taken on their concerns."

The council has now pledged to draw up guidelines specifically to protect Abbey Road and Cripley Road residents.

More than 50 residents from the two streets feared their neighbourhood would become a 'commercialised precinct'.

The Abbey and Cripley Road Residents Association said: "It lacks detailed consideration of the local residential areas around the train station.

"The neighbourhood would become a commercialised precinct.

"The retail, hotel and student accommodation uses are considered not necessary and appear to be solely 'income generating'."

Botley Road would also be widened to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians, and allow for the Cowley Branch line to be reopened.

Oxford's Liberal Democrat leader Andrew Gant welcomed the majority of the changes but said it was clear funding was a concern.

He said: "In the end the station will gain only one new platform and that's only if a new span can be built across the Botley Road.

"It is not clear – if funding is not approved by Network Rail – how this would be funded. The whole scheme seems to rest upon this element."

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price confirmed the entire scheme was reliant on separate funding to widen Botley Road bridge, which would unlock the rest of the development.

He said: "The focal element is the Botley Road bridge, which is a Department for Transport (DfT) project.

"We have had various conversations with the DfT but it has never really come to anything.

Mr Price added 'constructive' negotiations were continuing but a timing and cost had yet to be confirmed.