WORK to repair a listed building that Oxford United fans used as a pub has been agreed by its owner and the city council.

The Priory, near the Kassam Stadium, has been unused for nearly six and a half years.

It is owned by the city council but is leased to Firoka, the company of former U's owner, Firoz Kassam.

The Grade II* listed building has not been used since it was closed as a pub in 2013.

The council said Firoka had to repair the building when it was granted planning permission for the Hampton by Hilton hotel, off Grenoble Road, in 2005.

The authority repeated the warning in 2018 – but by May this year, nothing had been done.

READ MORE: Firoz Kassam's company Firoka could lose 99-year Priory lease as part of council action

It had said it was considering taking enforcement action, but it appears that will no longer be as pressing as it was before.

On Monday, councillors were told council officers and Firoka’s planning agent have now ‘drawn up’ what work will need to be done.

Alex Hollingsworth, the council’s cabinet member for planning and transport, told councillors: “An external façade condition survey of the Priory Public House has been undertaken by the current tenant’s planning agent following which a report and a schedule of works outlining all of the necessary repairs to the external façade of the building has been drawn up.

“These works have been submitted to and agreed by the council’s Design and Heritage Team."

He said: “We are now awaiting the date of commencement for the works.

"The Breach of Condition Notice served by the council will remain in place until the works are completed.”

Mr Hollingsworth was responding to a question from councillor David Henwood.

He asked whether the authority had been planning to take enforcement action and whether a deadline for when the work would need to be done had been set.

READ MORE: Oxford council silent over crumbling Priory pub at Kassam Stadium

Documents obtained as part of a freedom of information request earlier this year showed the council had threatened Firoka with a fine of £2,500 for any ‘first offence and any subsequent offence’ in May 2018.

Firoka also owns the Ozone Leisure Park. That includes a Vue cinema, restaurants and the Hollywood Bowl bowling alley.

The company has responsibility for the Priory as part of a 99-year full repairing lease agreed by the council.

The Oxford Mail reported in June 2013 how the pub’s former landlord, Tim Rackley, who was living in the building, said he had been ordered to leave by Firoka.

He said debts had mounted and Firoka would no longer let him continue running the pub in the building.

Fans said the pub was ‘probably the only thing that felt homely’ about playing at the Kassam Stadium, which is frequently criticised for having just three stands and lacking atmosphere.

Another fan said the pub had ‘been a great place for all types of fans for many years’.

Warnings about the pub – listed by Historic England as Minchery Farmhouse – falling into disrepair from city groups date back to 2014.