THE long-awaited £20m redevelopment of the Castle Mill Boatyard in Jericho came a step closer last night after a committee backed a new agreement.

The boatyard scheme would see a ‘piazza’ created between St Barnabas Church and the Oxford Canal, bordered by a community centre, boatyard, nursery, restaurant and 22 homes.

Original plans, approved by Oxford City Council in February last year, had only included a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists at the end of Great Clarendon Street.

But changes put forward include building a second bridge over the canal directly into the proposed square. The idea emerged after drawn-out discussions that had held up the project.

In addition Johnny Sandelson, the developer behind the scheme, said he will offer community groups £150,000 in start-up cash to build a new community centre, as well as a 999-year ‘peppercorn’ lease on the site where it is proposed.

Last night the city council’s west area planning committee supported the latest changes, meaning the draft Section 106 agreement – a legal document that dictates how a developer should contribute to the local area – can be finalised.

Mr Sandelson told the Oxford Mail last week that diggers could move on to the site within eight weeks of the deal being signed off by the city council.