DEVELOPERS hoping to build houses on sports fields next to the former Lord Nuffield Club have renewed their fight with two planning bids.

Oxford City Council threw out plans for 43 homes on the site in William Morris Close earlier this year.

But developers Cantay Estates has now submitted new, very similar plans and appealed against the original decision at the same time, sparking outrage.

Former city councillor and Normandy Crescent resident Bob Timbs, 60, said the developer should not be allowed to proceed.

He said: “When the club was on the verge of closing, the committee asked the council if it could build a small block of flats to make an income, but it was told that the area had been developed to its full potential.

“As far as I’m concerned that’s how it should stay. The council should stick to its guns.

“But this is the way these developers work. All they are interested in is how much money is in their pockets. They won’t take into consideration what the residents think.

“I’m just hoping that the planning inspector stands his ground and insists on the council planning policy that this is recreational land.”

The news comes after the Tyndale Community School announced its plans to open in the former club building in September.

It will be Oxford’s first free school.

Plans for the school were initially thrown out by the city council, but Government legislation allows free schools to open in existing buildings for a year before seeking permission.

The Lord Nuffield Club was founded in 1919 as the Morris Motors Athletic Club.

It went into receivership in 2009, just two years after moving into its newly constructed clubhouse.

The building has stood empty since then but will reopen as the Tyndale Community School in September.

The planning inspector will take all comments on the original application into account, but anyone wishing to make new comments should visit planningportal. gov.uk or email teamp11@pins.gsi.gov.uk by August 30.

Cantay Estates was unavailable for comment.