PLANS to demolish a former MOT garage in Headington and build 'high quality' apartments could be rejected due to a lack of affordable housing.

The proposals for a three-storey block of six flats in Lime Walk have been recommended for refusal at next week's Oxford City Council east area planning committee meeting.

Council officers said the developer - Biggin Morrison Investments Ltd - had failed to show that the project would not be viable if a contribution was made towards affordable housing.

They said the need for affordable housing in the city was 'extremely high' and that full weight had to be given to its policy of developments with more than five residential units needing to at least contribute financially.

The developer claimed it could not make a full contribution and made an offer of £38,000 towards affordable housing elsewhere.

But the council disputed its assessment and hired an external viability consultant, who concluded that a contribution of up to £198,000 could be made and the scheme would still be viable.

In the absence of a 'robustly justified' contribution planners called for councillors to refuse the plan.

But they had no problem with the scheme itself, which would comprise of three one-bed and three two-bed flats.

Oxford Civic Society was 'dubious' of the developer's claim the site was not suitable for family housing.

Councillors will make a decision on Wednesday at Town Hall at 6pm.