A DECISION to grant permission for a £57m scheme for Oxford University’s Old Road Campus could be overturned.

The scheme has been called in by a group of Oxford City councillors, it emerged last night. Approval was given at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, despite objections from some Headington residents.

The plan includes the new Nuffield Department of Medicine and Kennedy Institute, which is moving from London.

It has now been called in for review by councillors. The minimum needed to call in an application is 12 but the exact number was unclear last night.

Concerns raised include the “overbearing” design of the three-storey building and the lack of extra car parking for 150 extra staff.

Sietske Boeles, of the Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, said: “We very much welcome the application being called in. It is more suitable for central Oxford than a residential area.”

The decision of the east area planning committee could be overturned, or the conditions imposed could be changed.

Headington councillor David Rundle said: “It is good this is being looked at again. This is double or quits.”

A city council spokesman would not reveal which councillors called in the application. It will now go before the planning review committee as early as its next meeting on August 31.