A DEVELOPER has submitted revised plans for a controversial bid to build homes on sports pitches at a closed Cowley social club.

Cantay Estates has cut the number of homes for land at the former Lord Nuffield Club in Barracks Lane, from 43 to 40.

Oxford City Council threw out the plans in April, saying Cantay had not proved the former pitches could no longer be used for spors.

It was also claimed the plans would overdevelop the site.

The firm, which has pledged two replacement pitches, said the former pitches are overgrown and could not be reopened.

Cantay partner Tony Nolan said: “We have responded to some of the comments made by the planning officers.

“Whilst we don’t necessarily agree with them we have endeavoured to achieve what they were getting at.

“We have made some layout changes and reduced the number of homes down to 40.

“Housing is a perfect use for the site seeing as it is not being used for anything else – nor will it be.”

He said the firm will await the council’s response to the new plan before deciding whether to appeal on the original scheme.

Any appeal would be decided by the independent Planning Inspectorate.

The Park End Street firm bought the club site, which has been standing empty for four years, last year.

The club was founded for car workers and their families as the Morris Motors Sports and Athletics Club soon after William Morris set up his Cowley factory in 1913.

It closed down in 2009 with debts of £3m just two years after moving into a new building in Temple Cowley.

Cantay has agreed to sell the club building to the group planning to open a free school, the Tyndale Community School, in September.

Normandy Crescent resident Bob Timbs, a former city councillor, said:“Barracks Lane is just not big enough to cope with that volume of houses, and the junction with Hollow Way is busy.

“The people who live here know it is going to have an impact.

“It doesn’t make any difference that it has got three houses less.

“It should be left as a green field site.”