A COMPANY planning to buy Langdale Hall in Witney has suddenly pulled out of the sale, after failing to obtain planning permission.

Witney Town Council is now exploring its options with regard to the future of the town centre hall.

Calling it a "shame" that the sale had fallen through, town clerk Sharon Groth explained the new owners Iceford Ltd, trading as Neptune Homes, had planned to improve the existing building.

The former drill hall, which was built in the 1920s, was put on the open market in July 2014 through property agents Bidwells.

And in November 2014 an unconditional offer was accepted from Neptune Homes, a bespoke home improvements company, which would have brought significant benefits to the town.

Mrs Groth said: "It is a shame that an application to register the hall as an Asset of Community Value delayed the proceedings by six months, and subsequently changed the original offer to that reliant on Neptune Homes getting planning permission.

"However, the town council is now able to use this opportunity to re-evaluate the needs of a growing town, especially in light of the feedback received from the Corporate Plan survey carried out earlier in the year."

When the hall was put up for sale it was valued at more than £750,000. The building was used for social, community and corporate events In 2011 the town council agreed to sell the hall to fund repairs needed to reopen the Corn Exchange in Market Square.