A WRITER's shed style outbuilding off the Botley Road will be transformed into a tiny commercial office.

The newly-minted office building sits behind a house on Botley Road where it meets Oatlands Road, and could now be leased out as a business premises.

The plans were approved by Oxford City Council's west area planning committee yesterday afternoon.

The building, only 18msq, has room for a kitchen and toilet, as well as office space, and was only built after planning permission was granted last year.

Planning officer Rob Fowler told the committee that there was 'a lot of demand for offices' in Oxford and the outbuilding 'would compliment that by providing a small site' for someone to work at.

Committee chair Colin Cook had reservations about the new office 'intensifying' use of a mainly residential street and said he would oppose it.

He also added: "I think local concern was that this given it has a toilet a shower and effectively a kitchen area is available for independent use possibly as an AirBnB type operation albeit a relatively small one, and was that this would come to pass

"I am much reassured by the officers conditions that I feel confident would prevent such a use if this were passed."

His fellow committee members approved the change of use by a majority vote, but John Tanner said he was 'not optimistic' a tenant could be found.