NEW plans submitted by developer Martin Young for a Headington con- servation area house have been earmarked for refusal.

Officers at Oxford City Council have recommended that councillors throw out the latest bid for 29 Old High Street when they meet next week.

Mr Young has become known in the area for his repeated attempts to get planning permission for the demolition and expansion of the site.

He initially sparked anger among residents after he announced his intention to knock the house down and replace it with five three-storey houses. The plan was thrown out.

Now Mr Young is hoping to knock down part of the building – which is in the Old Headington conservation area – and build a two-storey side and rear extension.

But neighbours have objected to the scheme and members of the council’s east area planning committee have been urged to refuse permission on Thursday.

Mr Young said: “Extending the house to increase the number of bedrooms is by far the best option for the site.

“In order for that to succeed and be built so we can finally put an end to the matter, it must have five bedrooms because houses are priced according to the number of bedrooms.

“If it is refused I will appeal. I will have my say at the committee meeting, for what good it may do.”

He added: “It’s a big site with a small house on it, and in order for it to be economically viable for me or anybody else, you have to fill up the value of the site.”

Mr Young has had a frosty relationship with the city council since an angry exchange with a council officer in 2008 during which he said: “I am armed, blood will be spilt.”

He pleaded guilty to a public order offence after making the comments, but has remained in a long-running battle over the future of 29 Old High Street.

In April, Mr Young was granted permission for a similar scheme to create a three-bedroom property, but has now changed his plans.

The last application won the support of the Friends of Old Headington group, which has been at-odds with Mr Young’s plans for many years.

Veronica Hurst, from the group, said: “We did support the last application, and we were very disappointed, but not particularly surprised, when he said he wasn’t going to go ahead with it. It was acceptable because it would still allow the original house to dominate on the site, whereas this new application will allow the modern building to dominate.”

Council planning officer Robert Fowler said the proposal “would unacceptably detract from the character of the existing building and would neither preserve nor enhance the special character and appearance of the conservation area”.