TRADERS are furious that Oxford City Council could allow homes and offices to be built on Summertown’s main car park as part of housing plans affecting dozens of sites around the city.

The council has listed the car park off Banbury Road as one of about 100 potential sites for housing.

The development would also include neighbouring Ewert House Hall, a large 1960s Oxford University complex, and a private university car park.

A full list of sites will be revealed during consultation starting later this month.

The Oxford Mail can reveal it is set to include land off Marston Ferry Road, currently earmarked for recreation or sports use.

It comes after the council backed plans to build a block of student accommodation on stilts above the St Clements car park near Magdalen Bridge, losing 40 of its 115 spaces.

Summertown traders fear a similar plan.

Domenico Trombino, owner of La Dolce Vita restaurant, said: “We need more car parking spaces here, not less.

“We have people coming in saying that they have driven around Summertown two or three times and can find nowhere to park.”

Adam Evans, manager of decorating shop Farrow & Ball, said: “People already lose business because people say they cannot park around here.”

Adrian Rhymes, manager of the Shepherd and Woodward schoolwear store, in Banbury Road, said: “The parking restrictions introduced around here mean the only option that people have is to go to the [Summertown] car park.”

Jean Fooks, city councillor for Summertown, said: “There now needs to be proper consultation to see what would be acceptable on this site.

“There is constant pressure on parking here.”

The council said the city desperately needed new homes and the plans were developed following conversations with developers and landowners.

Housing schemes would include affordable homes.

An extra 13,000 homes are expected to be needed in the city over the next two decades.

It comes after a 4,000-home plan for land off Grenoble Road, south of Grenoble Road, was axed by South Oxfordshire District Council. The city council said sites were being sought on Blackbird Leys.

Colin Cook, the council’s executive member responsible for development, said: “Our officers have scoured the entire city for possible development sites.

“The majority of sites on the list will be for homes.

“With some sites, it will be a question of going back to the drawing board and trying to increase the density. In some cases it will be a matter of trying to join up small plots of land.

“But some new opportunities have come up with developers bringing to our attention sites.”

Other sites put forward for non-housing development include the Oxford Retail Park, Oxford Business Park and the Oxford Science Park.

Meetings about the proposals will be held at:

  • East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street, November 24, 4.30pm-7.30pm
  • Summertown Community Centre, Diamond Place, November 26, 4.30pm-7.30pm.
  • Jubilee Hall, Sorrell Road, Blackbird Leys, November 27, 10am-noon.
  • Headington Baptist Church, Old High Street, November 30, 4.30pm-7.30pm.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, St Ebbe’s Street, December 4, 10am-noon.