ARCHITECTS could be "sent back to the drawing board" tonight after plans to build a controversial £1.2m recreation pavilion in Headington Quarry were stalled.

Despite planning permission to construct a new sports building in Margaret Road being given the go ahead last month, the wrecking ball is being restrained from demolishing the old pavilion after Oxford City councillors called in the plans to be discussed again tonight.

The move comes after more than 13 years of campaigning by community members to revamp the recreation ground, including changing rooms, toilets, along with a community space and kitchen.

East area planning committee member Liz Wade said she understood the "frustration" of the time taken to develop the area, but said it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity", adding it should be "something for whole community".

The Liberal Democrat councillor, who was one of 12 city councillors to call in the plans, said: "This is a lot of money being spent on the project and it is important we get it right.

"The pavilion could do a lot more for the community and it needs to go back to the drawing board."

Mrs Wade added the pavilion should be more accessible to everyone in the community, rather than just when the Quarry Rovers football teams – the main users of the site – operate.

She said: "They have missed a big trick and it could be a lot better."

Children’s football team Quarry Rovers, established in 1952, are the main users of the building and have played on the Margaret Road Recreation Ground since their foundation.

The club, which got FA chartered status in 2014, has about 200 children playing football every weekend.

Parents also take their children to the play area of the grounds.

The latest plans for the site were revamped following a public consultation in March and April 2015 and a recent campaign against the car park for six vehicles.

Parents raised concerns regarding the safety of children if car parking was allowed on the site.

City councillor for Quarry and Risinghurst Dee Sinclair, who has campaigned for the scheme with residents for 13 years, said she would be interested to hear the reasons behind stalling the project.

She added: "It's all a bit of a muddle. The project is something we have to get on with, we have been waiting long enough.

"We were all set to start in June and now it's been put back – that's frustrating. We will have to wait to see what people at the meeting say."

The planning review meeting will take place in Town Hall, St Aldates today at 5.30pm.