A BUILDING could be demolished to make way for 31 flats for the elderly.

Carterton Town Council will discuss the plans for Blenheim Court in Sycamore Drive tonight, before West Oxfordshire District Council makes a final decision.

The existing building has provided flats for the elderly for many years, but architects The Tooley & Foster Partnership say these 'no longer meet the desired standards and requirements'.

Each unit would have a terrace or balcony, while car parking spaces and disabled bays are planned.

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The district council's environmental health team has warned the site may be contaminated, due to a poultry farm previously occupying the area.

The application has one objection on the council's planning portal, from Carterton resident Peter Webb.

He wrote: "I cannot see the point of a perfectly good building being demolished only to be replaced by a similar construction.

"Has renovating this building not been considered, as this would surely be a less costly option."

Meanwhile, the district council has approved plans to change two units in West Oxfordshire Retail Park into a leisure space and cafe for Carterton Gymnastics Club.

The club has been looking for a home for 'a significant period of time' and the new premises are near Carterton Leisure Centre, which is currently undergoing an £8.3m revamp.

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The district council's business development officer, Will Barton, wrote in support of the application: "Leisure activities of this type are often difficult to accommodate because they require large buildings (of the type often found on industrial estates) but with adequate safe parking for the users.

"The units on the West Oxfordshire Retail Park meet this specification. They are good quality buildings but have been empty for many years.

"Their re-purposing for a gymnastics centre will be an excellent addition to Carterton and will help attract other occupiers into the remaining units on the site."

The town council's planning committee will consider eight applications tonight.