A BASEMENT store in central Oxford that has been empty since last year could become a large restaurant creating 60 jobs.

But a senior city councillor has criticised the plans saying the amount of waste the restaurant will produce has not been taken into account.

An application has been submitted to the city council for the former JJB Sports shop in Magdalen Street and the applicant, Strathclyde Pension Fund, has revealed it plans to turn it into a restaurant with about 200 seats, plus a bar.

But it has not been revealed which restaurant will take on the property.

City councillor Tony Brett, pictured, who represents the Carfax ward, said: “I vigorously object to the fact that the plans have no areas to store and aid the collection of waste and the fact that there are no arrangements made for the separate storage and collection of recyclable waste.

“A restaurant for 232 covers will produce a large amount of waste and the immediate area is already in a disgusting state with overflowing industrial bins all over the place, particularly along Friar’s Entry.

“If permission must be given, I urge in the strongest possible terms that it must include a rigorous and enforceable condition that it will store its waste onsite and not put it on the public highway any earlier than two hours before collection.”

The applicant anticipates that 60 new jobs will be created by the opening of the restaurant.

Retailer JJB Sports went into administration in October last year and its two shops in Oxfordshire were closed, including the one in Magdalen Street, with 16 workers losing their jobs.

Since then, the shop in central Oxford has been lying empty.

Claire Heathcote, of planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, said there is a food and drink retailer who is interested in taking the property on and added that negotiations are at an “advanced stage”.

She said: “The bar is for the use of customers while they are waiting for a table.

“The proposed development will bring a vacant unit in Oxford city centre back into a beneficial and vibrant use which is appropriate for its town centre location and will provide employment benefits.”

A planning application to change use from a shop to a restaurant has been submitted to Oxford City Council. A decision will be made by city council planning officers.

DTZ Investment Management, the company which is marketing the unit, would not comment on which restaurant was interested in the unit.