PROPERTY developer Martin Young has relaunched his bid to bring 29 Old High Street in Headington back into use.

The dilapidated house has been empty for five years, and Mr Young was last year ordered to clear it up by Oxford City Council.

He wants to demolish “tatty” outbuildings and extend the main building to create one large home, but in December he withdrew his planning bid.

He had threatened to build 1970s-style chalets, permitted by an old planning permission from 1974, on the site to prove a point to planners.

But now he says his original plans are back on the table.

He said: “I’m re-starting the process which was stalled while I investigated the extent to which an old planning permission on the site was valid.

“At the 11th hour when it was about to go to committee with a recommendation for refusal I noticed the old plans included the demolition of the porch which I had done.

“There is a rule that once you have started something, planning permission doesn’t expire like it normally would.

“However, there was clearly going to be some debate about the issue and as it was recommended for refusal I felt I should withdraw it.”

But he eventually decided to re-submit his original bid, which, if approved, will mean there is one main house on the site.

He said: “I want to get rid of all the tatty bits and turn it into one big house. At the moment it’s just a long block with lots of rooms which gradually get smaller.”

Veronica Hurst, from the Friends of Old Headington group, said: “Were we able to see it restored as a house it could be a thoroughly agreeable house for its period. If that is Mr Young’s intention we would be happy to see it carried out.”