Boatyard flats 'still an option'

The Castle Mill site has been boarded up since 2007

The developers behind a plan to build an apartment block on the site of a historic boatyard in Oxford have vowed to forge ahead with the scheme.

A planning inspector dismissed an appeal to build 54 flats at the Castle Mill site in Jericho on Wednesday after concerns about its visual impact.

Campaigners have fought to stop the development for more than three years.

But contractors Spring, said they would take on board comments from the report and resubmit the designs.

The planning inspector report stated: "My findings in favour of the scheme on the affordable housing issue are not sufficient to outweigh concerns over waterside provision or the visual impact of the development, with implications for Jericho and the setting of the church."

In 2005, opponents barricaded themselves into the boatyard to stop bailiffs clearing the site after British Waterways sold it to developers.

We regard this site as an important opportunity to meet the increasing need for housing in the local area Spring, developers

They were evicted from the site in 2007, but vowed to carry on fighting the plans to turn the area into luxury flats.

Since then the Castle Mill site has been boarded up and empty.

The boatyard inspired novelist Philip Pullman in his trilogy, His Dark Materials, the first part of which has been made into the film The Golden Compass.

But the developers have said they will continue with their plans.

"We regard this site as an important and viable opportunity to meet the increasing need for housing in the local area," a spokesman for Spring said.

"Throughout the process, we have remained open to dialogue with the local community and will continue to engage in constructive discussions.

"We will consider the comments made by the inspector on design and boating facilities and will be revising the scheme to incorporate these comments.

"Revised plans will be prepared, consulted upon and submitted in due course."