PLANS to transform one of Bicester's oldest primary schools into a restaurant have been dubbed overly 'ambitious' by councillors.

Developers U+I have submitted plans to create a high end restaurant, alongside ten new homes, on the former St Edburg's Primary School site.

But at a town council meeting on Monday, councillors aired concerns over access, parking and the effect on nearby residents.

Bicester Town councillor Richard Mould said: "The plans to turn the old school into a high end restaurant with a patio area and ten houses and I think given the access it is an extremely ambitious proposal.

“The other thing is that as a high end restaurant it is not just going to be for town clientele. People are going to drive there and to my mind there is insufficient parking.

"The only access if from Church Street/ Kings End junction which is a blind junction - until an alternative access is found I don’t think they should resubmit the application.

"While high end restaurants are great, this is the wrong place."

Developers have submitted a planning application which includes retaining the oldest part of the building to create a restaurant and demolishing the modern extension. This will also include a patio dining area.

On the other end of the site, developers hope to build ten two or three bedroom homes with 10 parking spaces and five visitor spaces.

It is described as 'a design aimed at respecting and enhancing the setting of the former school building'.

Speaking against the plans at the meeting was nearby resident Pam Roberts, who said: "This is an alteration to make old school building into a high end restaurant and demolish the modern extension and build ten houses in the grass playing fields of the school.

"Our main objection is the traffic and parking with the access down Cemetery Road. Apart from the increase in traffic in this very narrow road, it also has a very dangerous bend in it, so you cant see down the end of the lane.

"The other disadvantage apart from noise and traffic is the disturbance of the cemetery and church which is a grade one listed building. Plus the loss of yet more green space as it is being built on the playing fields.

"Every green space in Bicester is important as it continues to get infiltrated with more and more concentration of houses being built in Bicester."

The detailed design of the scheme will be confirmed in a follow up application.