DETAILS of a review into Oxford City Council’s planning process have been revealed for the first time.

A working party has been appointed to look into the issue of how planning applications are considered following the fall-out from Oxford University’s Castle Mill student homes.

The development caused uproar after it became clear that it was blocking views of Oxford’s “dreaming spires” from Port Meadow. Campaigners have criticised the planning process.

A review has now been launched and was approved at the west area planning committee at the Town Hall last night.

An independent person will be appointed by the city council to carry out the review itself. This person has yet to be appointed, but the council says they will have full access to its files and background material.

City councillor John Goddard will be the convenor for the working party.

He will be joined by Oscar Van Nooijen and Elise Benjamin, both members of the west area planning committee, as well as Toby Porter of the Save Port Meadow campaign group, plus one representative from both the Oxford Civic Society and Oxford Preservation Trust. Issues to be looked at include the effectiveness of the council’s planning consultations and the development’s visual impact.

Nicky Moeran, a North Oxford resident who is part of the Save Port Meadow campaign group, said: “We welcome an independent review, but our aim is not for this simply to end up being a ‘lessons learnt for next time’ exercise.”

The review is likely to be completed in the autumn.