FLATS will be built above a branch of Barclays Bank in Headington, after a drawn out planning battle.

Earlier this year, Simon Ryde, of Bradford Securities, was told he could not build an extra floor onto the top of Barclays Bank in Headington, at the cross section of London Road and Old High Street.

Now Mr Ryde has won a planning appeal, with Government-appointed inspect C Osgathorp giving his plans the go-ahead.

READ AGAIN about why the bank branch closed

Oxford City Council had rejected his application to build a metal clad set of three one-bedroom flats onto the roof of the former bank, which closed earlier this year.

Oxford Mail:

The new flats will be built on the roof of the bank and accessed by a new staircase built behind the building. Picture: Google Maps.

Others, including the Headington History, a local history group had objected to the plan as it was out of keeping with the existing building which is thought to be late Victorian or early Edwardian.

But the inspector said the fact that the rooftop extension was set back from the street meant it would not be overbearing.

READ AGAIN about when the planning appeal began here

The report issue be the inspector also found that the new building would not lead to a loss of privacy for nearby residents, and said there were existing flats in a similar position in the area around London Road and Headington shops.

For more information about the planning application, visit Oxford City Council's website and search for planning reference 19/02853/FUL.