A LANDMARK Victorian building in Jericho looks to have been spared from demolition following protests from local people.

Developers had originally wanted to demolish the building on the corner of Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street, famous for its Lumley’s Tea advertisement on the front of the building.

Following objections from residents and the Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society, the £15m scheme to create shops and student accommodation was rejected by Oxford City Council earlier in the year.

But developer Shirehall Properties has resubmitted a scheme that would retain much of a building dating from the mid-19th century.

The Lumley’s Tea sign dates from the 1870s, when George Lumley ran a grocery store in the building.

The developer claimed the area was in need of regeneration and that the scheme would help restore it to its former glory.

A fresh planning application, submitted to Oxford City Council, proposes the creation of six new shops and student accommodation, comprising of 35 rooms.

The new plans would, however, still involve the demolition of 126 Walton Street and 32/32a Little Clarendon Street, with 123, 125 and 127 Walton Street refurbished.

Kevin Minns, development manager for Shirehall Properties, said: “This new planning application seeks to respond to the concerns of the city council and local community by retaining the building on the corner of Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street.”

Hugh Mellor, of Kemp & Kemp, planning consultant for the project, said that it would not be a question of retaining the frontage of the Victorian building and gutting the rest of the building.

He said: “We will retain as much of the interior structure and walls as possible. The message came home to us that people liked the corner building. What people see today is what they will see in the future, only it will be refurbished and cleaned up.”

Shirehall Properties holds a 150-year lease for the properties on the site, with the freehold owned by University College.

David Clark, of Walton Street, who is a member of Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society’s listed buildings sub-committee, said: “There are some aspects of the new application that I can’t say I’m happy about. There is rather more demolition proposed than I had expected.

“But we need to look at the proposals carefully. Having only just looked at what is being put forward, I’m worried how they are going to ensure that the corner building does not fall down.”

Residents had earlier complained that the corner building, despite being a local landmark, had been allowed to fall into disrepair over many years.

There were also some complaints that the number of student rooms proposed in the original plan was unacceptable in an area already heavily populated by students.