City councillors finally called time on the former Fairview Inn in Oxford tonight when they agreed it could be turned into a family home.

Councillors at the East area committee granted planning permission for a change of use for the former 1950s pub in Glebelands in Headington, and it will now become a five-bedroom house.

The long-running saga started in 2013 when it was first put up for sale, sparking a failed community buy-out.

Green city councillor Dick Wolff said: "History has caught up with this pub - it was a classic bit of 1950s stuff, both externally and internally, but there was not enough local support for it."

Labour councillor Van Coulter chaired the committee at the town hall and told fellow councillors: "As another 1950s bit of stuff we do need to go to the vote on this."

After the application was approved owner Kuldip Turna told the Oxford Mail he would live in the property with his wife, three children and his mother.

The shopkeeper added: "Work will start soon."

Before the meeting officers told councillors in their report: "The proposal would make an efficient and effective use of a previously developed site in order to provide a good-quality detached dwelling which has a good standard of internal and external environment that adequately provides for the future occupants of the dwelling.

“The proposal will provide adequate off-street parking for the dwelling house in a manner that maintains highway safety.”

Objections centred on the loss of the pub and of an asset of local community value.

In letters of representation to the council, concerns were raised that the pub played an important part in 'defining the area’s distinct local character’.

The Fairview Inn was built by Reading-based brewers H & G Simonds and opened in 1959.