OXFORD is in the middle of a massive housing crisis, but Kevin McCloud’s ambitious plans are not necessarily the answer that we’ve been looking for.

It was naive of Mr McCloud – unsurprisingly absent from the planning meeting on Wednesday – to think a development without parking would be nudged through in Cowley.

In bringing forward this bid, Haboakus underestimated the residents of this lively, busy part of our city, who always keep a watchful eye on threatening development.

The developer should be applauded for trying to make the most of these sites – once key community resources – and in Northway the extra flats may well be welcomed.

But even the promise of 40 new flats in the heart of Cowley was never going to outweigh the immense problem the area has with parking.

Any scheme on this site is clearly going to fail to win the support of residents and councillors if it fails to address these problems.

So our message to Mr McCloud is go back to the drawing board and we hope to see you present defending your plans next time.