A COMMUNITY group in Jericho has warned it cannot start fundraising for a long-awaited new community centre until developers strike a deal with planning bosses.

Despite Oxford City Council approving plans for the £20 million redevelopment of the Castle Mill boatyard five months ago, developer SIAHAF has yet to submit vital information.

Councillors in February approved the scheme for a “piazza” square between St Barnabas Church and Oxford Canal, bordered by a community centre, boatyard, nursery, restaurant and 22 homes, but attached 43 conditions.

They said the developer would have to lodge a separate application, which would set out how it will meet the conditions, subject to approval by a committee.

But the firm has yet to produce the application, which is vital for work to begin.

This week the Jericho Wharf Trust warned that until the conditions were fully agreed – which include a transfer of the piazza square and community centre ownership from the developer to the trust – it could not begin raising an estimated £5m needed for the new community centre.

Trust chairman Phyllis Starkey said: “We are happy with the conditions the council put on the planning approval, but we now need to be sure that the final agreement sticks to them and the public commitments made by the developer.

“That process is still ongoing and we are concerned about the length of time it is taking. But we are more concerned about getting an outcome that will allow the delivery of the long-desired public facilities.”

She added that until an agreement on the conditions was finalised, the wharf trust could not launch its fundraising campaign for the new community centre.

Mrs Starkey added: “We need greater certainty on the land ownership and until we have that we won’t be able to apply for grant funding from public bodies.”

The Oxford Mail attempted to reach SIAHAF chief executive, Johnny Sandelson, for comment but he did not respond.

But Jericho city councillor Susanna Pressel said: “The council is waiting to hear how the developers propose to meet the conditions.

“Many of the 43 conditions still remain to be agreed.”