AN ILLEGAL rave in Botley was the “unfortunate outcome” of delays to the redevelopment of West Way, a councillor has said.

Police swooped on the rave in an abandoned building around the back of the Elms Parade shops in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Officers were called just after midnight and were at the scene all day to resolve the issue “in a peaceful manner”.

Several police vans were parked behind the shops and officers patrolled around the stores in West Way shopping centre.

A 40-year-old man from Oxford has since been arrested following the incident, believed to have taken place in the vacant former Grant Thorton building.

Residents reported loud drum ‘n’ bass music being played in the building throughout Saturday night.

Botley councillor and Vale Lib Dem leader Debby Hallet said the stalled development of the shopping centre meant the building was susceptible to these sorts of crimes.

She said: “The building is not owned or managed by Vale of White Horse District Council but is a victim of the slow progress of the redevelopment plans.

“It’s another frustrating outcome for the delay in decision-making about the future of West Way. Many local businesses have closed or moved away and this vacant building and its car park are an attractive nuisance for bored teenagers and, sadly now, also vandals.”

She added: “The property has been abandoned and disused for years now.”

The building has been vacant since 2011 and plans for the redevelopment of the shopping centre were first mooted in January 2013.

Following more than 1,200 objections and several amended sets of plans, the £100m proposal was unanimously rejected in December 2014 by the district council’s planning committee.

The consultation process on a new redevelopment has restarted and developer Mace is expected to put plans forward by the end of the year.

The 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of abstracting electricity without authority and failure to leave land.

He has been bailed until October 25.