THE approval of a multi-million pound housing development fronted by TV presenter Kevin McCloud could lead to the introduction of another residents’ parking zone in Oxford.

Oxford City Council’s planning officers have asked development company Haboakus for nearly £40,000 which they say could go towards a Barns Road controlled parking zone (CPZ).

It will be part of a £100,000 financial contribution which the company will be asked to make towards highway improvements.

Haboakus is a joint venture between the Grand Designs presenter’s development company Hab and housing association GreenSquare and the company wants to build more than 100 homes across two sites in Cowley and Northway.

Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, has objected to the proposals because of parking concerns.

In a letter to the city council it says: “Whilst the site is considered to be sustainable in terms of transport, it will create demand for parking.

“The area surrounding the site would need to be covered by a CPZ, in order to ensure that the proposed uses of this site do not create parking pressure and risks to highway safety in the vicinity of the site.”

But it goes on to say that the introduction of a CPZ is subject to a consultation, the outcome of which cannot be assured.

The county council currently operates 25 CPZs across Oxford where residents have to pay £50 for an annual permit so they can leave their cars in the street near their homes.

Knolles Road resident Neil Hewitt said: “I don’t want to see a CPZ in the area. The council should be looking at ways of improving things for the residents, not making it worse.

“The whole thing stinks.”

The city council’s planning officers have recommended the development for approval because the measures Haboakus propose, such as marketing the 40 Barns Road flats as “car free”, would not lead to an increase in parking.

Jo Curson, Haboakus project director, said: “Haboakus has agreed to work with the city and county councils to further consider and determine appropriate parking requirements for the Cowley area.

“This may include a controlled parking zone, although any decision to introduce parking restrictions would ultimately be made by the county highways department.”

As a result the city council has outlined a sum of £37,500 from the developers which will be safeguarded towards a potential CPZ if it is needed.

County council spokesman Owen Morton said: “Given the nature of the development, it is likely that such a scheme will prove to be necessary in the long-term, and although there is no firm proposal at this stage, it is entirely normal for councils to seek financial commitments of this nature from developers, as part of infrastructure planning.”

A decision on the planning application will be made by the city council’s east area planning committee at a public meeting on Wednesday at Town Hall.

The meeting was postponed by a month after a spate of late comments from members of the public.