THE deferred decision on plans for Bicester’s new retail park has been further delayed until October.

If approved, it could see a retail park built off the Oxford Road, including Next, Marks & Spencer and one other retailer, plus three restaurants and a gym.

Applicants CPG Development Projects Ltd asked for the decision to be deferred in August to address a number of objections it said were “sprung” upon them.

At a Bicester Town Council meeting on Monday, representatives confirmed the decision has now been deferred for two further months for talks with Cherwell District Council officers. It will now go to councillors on October 1.

Arfon Hughes from Mango Planning, on behalf of the applicants, said: “At the time the committee report came out, issues were raised with us and the deferral happened as we thought some of these were sprung upon us.

“The difficulty we’ve had has been the dialogue with officers. Fundamental issues were overdevelopment of site and impact on town centre.

“In terms of overdevelopment: the issue relates predominantly to the number of car parking spaces. Oxfordshire County Council assessed this and said there are enough spaces.

“The impact on the town centre is probably more focused and we have provided responses to all the issues raised by officers on that.”