PLANS for a three-storey block of flats in place of a former Headington dental practice should be approved, a council officer has recommended.

Oxford City Council planning officer Angela Fettiplace is urging councillors to pass the nine-flat plan for 312 London Road on Wednesday.

The practice has been closed for five years. A plan to replace the building with nine flats was approved in 2008 but permission expired in 2011.

The new scheme has three three-bedroom, four two-bedroom and two one-bedroom flats. Applicant FWG Construction has also proposed 19 cycle and 12 car parking spaces.

Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council branded it “overdevelopment” that would be “grossly out of character with the surrounding buildings” and raised traffic concerns.

Oxford Civic Society raised concerns about the shortage of local dentists while four residents objected over overlooking, parking and building size.

But the report to councillors said: “The proposal forms an appropriate visual relationship with the site and the surrounding development and will appear in keeping with the character of the area.”

There have been no changes in site circumstances since 2008, she said.

The east area planning committee meets at 6pm at the Town Hall.