THE controversial plan to build a block of 40 flats in Cowley was last night approved at the second attempt.

The scheme for Barns Road, spearheaded by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, was initially rejected by Oxford city councillors earlier this month.

The council’s east area planning committee said the fact the scheme provided no residents’ parking on-site was “likely to lead to significant on-street parking to the detriment of highway safety”.

However, a group of 12 Labour councillors “called in” the decision to look at it again and planning officers changed their recommendation from refusal to approval.

Last night, the council’s planning review committee gave the scheme the go-ahead unanimously.

Councillor John Tanner said: “What we have got isn’t perfect, but I am satisfied that this is a reasonable development.”

The application for the four-storey block of flats will also see a community centre next door. A shop and workshop for the Emmaus homeless charity will be built on the ground floor of the block. There will be 19 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom flats and 100 cycle parking spaces.

Mr Tanner said: “It does mean the community will get a community centre back.”

The Barns Road block was one of three developments proposed in an £18m scheme across Oxford.

The scheme was developed by Haboakus – a collaboration between Mr McCloud’s company Hab and housing association GreenSquare.

The east area planning committee has already granted approval for 21 flats at Westlands Drive, Northway, and 47 houses in Maltfield Road, Northway in the same scheme.

More than 489 people objected to the Barns Road planning application and 327 people signed a petition against it.

In return for planning permission, the city council asked for £395,000 to improve infrastructure, of which it promised to safeguard £37,500 for a possible controlled parking zone in Barns Road.