PART of a Headington park is set to be turned into affordable homes, prompting conservationists to accuse Oxford City Council leaders of over-developing the area.

Plans for 10 homes on the site of the council’s depot in Bury Knowle Park have been unveiled.

It comes after the local authority put up for sale the park’s stables and barn which are also set to become housing.

Rosemary Belton, of Friends of Bury Knowle Park, said: “I appreciate that the council has to maximise its assets but I have some considerable doubts about whether this is an appropriate location for development.

“It depends very much on how it is done. I am concerned that it may detract from the ambience of the park and from the house itself.

“But I wouldn’t want to say nothing could ever be built there.”

Bury Knowle Park is one of the city’s most popular open spaces.

Sandfield Road resident Bob Clarke, also a member of the Friends group, said: “Headington is changing and I think it might be over-development.

“Cash is tight but I would hate to see the park spoilt in any way, shape or form.”

If planning permission is granted, the buildings will be knocked down and turned into five three-bed, three two-bed and two one-bed flats which will all be affordable housing.

The city council said in its application that the designs of the new homes have been “carefully considered” to prevent any impact on the park.

“The key elements of the site which contribute to the Old Headington Conservation Area have been retained and where possible the scheme has been designed to better reveal the significance of the site,” it said.

The development of the depot, which has been used by the council to store its materials and equipment, will be car-free.

Earlier this year the stables and barn attached to Bury Knowle House were given planning permission, allowing them to be turned into two three-bedroom houses with space for car parking.

The buildings – described them as “magnificent” by estate agents Kemp and Kemp – are now on sale for £450,000.

As well as selling off the stables and barns, the council is also vacating the top floor of Bury Knowle House, where its leisure department is based.

The house was built about 1800, and the council bought the entire Bury Knowle estate in 1930 for more than £11,000 and turned the grounds into a public park.

Last year Headington residents mounted a campaign to safeguard the library, which opened in Bury Knowle House in 1932, from being downgraded under Oxfordshire County Council library service reorganisation plans.