A FORMER Oxford post office will be demolished and replaced by shops after standing empty for four years.

But plans for a pub or takeaway on the site in Upper Bar, Cowley, have been axed.

City councillors backed proposals for the former Cowley Centre Post Office building, which was last used in 2007 before relocating to the Co-op store inside Templars Square.

Plans for a pub or takeaway in the building were dropped at the last minute.

Members of Oxford City Council’s Cowley area committee approved the plans on Wednesday night.

Applicant Tim James initially wanted to build a four- or two-storey property, before resubmitting his plans earlier this year.

Ahmet Boyai, who has run Cagneys Cafe next door for 29 years, said he had mixed feelings about the new development.

He said: “I am really pleased it won’t be a takeaway.

“That would not have been right for the area and would have led to an increase in rubbish.

“It is also nice to be replacing the building, which has been empty for a long time now.

“But this will be a major development and a lot of the business around here deals with food, so we are hoping there won’t be too much pollution.

“I don’t know how this is going to affect my business, so I don’t really know how to react to the news.”

The building will have two units for use as shops or office space.

The four councillors on the Cowley area committee said the site was not right for a food outlet and there were potential access problems.

As well as agreeing not to use the venue for food outlets, Mr Adams altered part of the application which would have taken up to 50 per cent of the backyard of Wheelers Butchers.

Wheelers’ owner Laurie Wheeler, who has been trading there for five years, said he was pleased with the decision. He said: “Things certainly look a lot better now.

“There are still a few points to sort out, but it looks like we will not lose half of our backyard, which is where we store a lot of our equipment. It would really have affected our business if that had gone through.”

The existing building was built in the mid-1960s alongside the rest of the shopping centre.

Labour councillor Bryan Keen, who opposed the original plan, said: “We are delighted that the applicant has listened to our concerns and agreed to alter the application. Local traders spoke at the meeting and he listened to their worries. It shows how effective negotiation can be.

“It is an important step for the redevelopment of the area.”

Council planning officers will now review the amendments before approving them.

Mr Adams was unavailable for comment.