A COMPANY which was refused permission to demolish a former MOT garage and build flats on the site has appealed to the government.

Biggin Morrison Investments Ltd twice applied for planning permission to knock down the old garage in Lime Walk, Headington, and Oxford City Council refused both times.

It is now appealing against the refusal of its first application.

Read again: Company makes second bid to build flats on MOT garage site

In that attempt, the company applied to build a three-storey building containing three one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats as well as a single storey building with a two-bedroom flat.

There would also be a 'private amenity space', a bin storage and cycle storage unit, alterations to landscaping and formation of one disabled parking space.

The city council refused the scheme in June 2018 because it did not include enough affordable housing and the company ' failed to demonstrate that development of the site would not be viable if a contribution towards affordable housing were made'.

The appeal will now be decided by an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State at an 'informal hearing'.