STABLES and a barn in Bury Knowle Park could be turned into homes as Oxford City Council prepares to sell the buildings off.

The buildings are more than 150 years old and are currently used by the council for storage.

Under the council’s plans the buildings would be turned into two three-bedroom houses with space for car parking.

A previous application to its own planning department was submitted last year but later withdrawn pending a decision by English Heritage.

The buildings are part of Bury Knowle House, which was built in around 1800, though the outbuildings are thought to have been added later.

The city council bought the entire Bury Knowle estate in 1930 for more than £11,000 and turned the grounds into a public park.

Rosemary Belton, of Friends of Bury Knowle, said: “I don’t think it is necessarily appropriate for it to intrude on the park area.

“If those buildings were made to look like a modern house it would change the character of Bury Knowle House.”

As well as selling off the stables and barns, the council is also vacating the top floor of Bury Knowle House, where its leisure department is based. A date for a decision has not yet been set.

Council spokesman Annette Cunningham said: “The planning consent which has been (sought) reflects the sensitive nature of the surrounding Conservation Area and aims to ensure the original characteristics of the building will be retained.

“If planning consent is gained, the property will be openly marketed for sale with the capital receipt helping to fund the council’s capital programme.”