SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has objected to plans for homes next to its new store in South Oxford.

The Tesco Express on the site of the former Fox and Hounds pub in Abingdon Road opened in February, years after it was first proposed.

But now the retail giant is objecting to plans for new flats on neighbouring land, in case the housing overshadows land it owns next to the store, which has not yet been developed.

Oxford Mail:

Sterling Developments (London) Ltd is proposing to build three one-bed, three two-bed and three three-bed self-contained flats on the site of the former Cold Arbour filling station at 281 Abingdon Road.

Tesco told the council’s planning department it is “concerned that the development potential of its site will be prejudiced by the homes plan.”

It added: “Tesco’s consented scheme only utilises land to the west, which leaves outstanding land to the north.

“This land is directly adjacent to what was formerly the Cold Arbour petrol station. As such, were Tesco to develop this land in the future for residential purposes, this would become constrained by issues such as daylight, sunlight and amenity considerations.”

Tesco was given planning permission in January 2012, after a four-year battle, to demolish the derelict pub, on the corner of Abingdon Road and Weirs Lane, and replace it with a three-storey building. The ground-floor store has four flats above it.

Vicar of St Luke’s Church in Canning Crescent, the Rev Jane Sherwood, said she thought new homes on the former petrol station would be welcomed, particularly if some were “affordable.”

Executive member for city development, Colin Cook, said the homes application would be considered by the west area planning committee at a date to be fixed.

He added: “Flooding has been a problem along the Abingdon Road so that will have to be taken into consideration by planning officers and councillors.”

Colin Foux, of Sterling Developments, said: “The new housing will greatly enhance the site and and Tesco will no doubt benefit from the additional customers.”

The Fox and Hounds closed in 2007 and the building was badly damaged in a 2009 fire.