MUSICIANS had their hopes for a new concert hall in Oxford dashed after a study said it would not be successful.

Long-discussed plans could have seen a £15 million venue built in Woodstock Road with up to 1,400 seats, providing space for a full orchestra.

It was proposed by St Edward’s School, but this week it said the project would not go ahead because of high costs and competition.

A study was carried out for the school by Edinburgh-based consultancy firm Bonnar Keenlyside, which found the theatre would have needed a subsidy of more than £400,000 a year and would been in direct competition with venues such as the New Theatre, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and St John the Evangelist Church.

The study added that while there was support for a new concert hall, orchestras would still have favoured the Sheldonian as the “premier venue”.

Oxford Philomusica music director Marios Papadopoulos said: “There is always going to be competition because I do not think any promoter in the city would abandon the Sheldonian, with its historic significance, so this doesn’t surprise me.

“Many cities have concert halls but not all of them have the Sheldonian, so perhaps we should play to our strengths.”

St Edward’s School warden Stephen Jones said: “We like bold projects, so it is a sadness the study suggests this is not going to be a runner.

“Oxford has a great love of the Sheldonian – orchestras want to come and play there.

“It has been an exciting process but we cannot get supporters behind this unless we have a business plan .”

The school’s enthusiasm for the scheme had been boosted by its success running its North Wall Arts Centre, which functions as a drama department and has its own theatre company.

But the study found the hall’s proposed location was not central enough and there was a lack of parking nearby.

Mr Jones said it would also have needed a “varied programme”.

He added: “You already have that in Oxford and so it would have placed us in competition with other venues.”

Proposals for the concert hall first emerged in 2002, when St Edward’s announced plans for the North Wall Arts Centre.

It was included again in plans for the school’s new music school, approved in 2013. Construction of that building began this year.

Hilary Keenlyside, of consultancy firm Bonnar Keenlyside, said: “ Although there is a love-hate relationship with the Sheldonian, it is still considered the premier venue and always will be.

“I’d never say never, but the issue of existing venues is really very challenging.”