COWLEY residents eager to hear if the new £60m Templars Square shopping centre redevelopment will be granted planning permission will have to wait a little longer to find out.

Developers NewRiver wants to transform the centre to include more than 200 new homes. new shops, a hotel and two new restaurants.

If plans are approved by Oxford City Council the 470-space Castle Car Park would also be knocked down.

City councillors had originally set a meeting to decide the project on May 31.

However, the city council said it would have to postpone the planning committee meeting for another week.

Explaining the decision to delay the meeting, city councillor for Cowley David Henwood pointed the finger at developers NewRiver for the delay.

He said: “Officers are waiting for additional information from NewRiver, and we felt it would be in the best interests for all concerned to move the meeting to facilitate this.

“This is a major redevelopment project, and care needs to be taken on the detail of the scheme.

“The public briefing will remain unchanged.”

The planning committee meeting will now be held on Monday, July 5 at the Town Hall.

Ahead of the meeting there will be a chance for residents to have their say on Wednesday, May 24 at 6pm also at the Town Hall, which will include presentations and briefings on the shopping centre project, with the public welcome to attend.