PLANS for a £50 million second phase to the Orchard Centre in Didcot could face delays following objections from Oxfordshire County Council highways officers.

County councillor for Didcot West Nick Hards said council officers have objected to the current service road for the shopping centre being built on.

Phase one of the centre was built in 2005 and now developer Hammerson is proposing an extension, bringing three new public spaces, 24 new shops including an M&S food store, and six restaurants, bringing 500 new jobs.

Earlier this month 500 residents were surveyed by a market research company and South Oxfordshire District Council said 88 per cent of people supported the plans to extend the centre.

But the county council is concerned the 225 new parking spaces will not be enough and as a result it is objecting to the existing bus route, between Broadway and Hitchcock Way, being built on.

An alternative proposal for buses to take a new route from Didcot Parkway to the Orchard Centre via Station Road is now backed by the county council as long as the road is widened, but that plan is not popular with residents.

Mr Hards said: “This objection could delay the project – but it could also mean that the Station Road option is now less likely to happen .”

The county council objection said: “Hitchcock Way is likely to see an increase in the number of trips in future years as Didcot expands.

“The council may require this road to have changes made to it to help with capacity improvements such as widening.

“Given that the council still has concerns about the impact parking will have on the surrounding road network, and the fact we may want to implement an improvement scheme along this section of Hitchcock Way in the future, we will not agree to the stopping up of the highway, or selling of OCC land at this time.

“If Hammerson, and the planning authority (South Oxfordshire District Council), are willing to accept that increased parking is required on this site, then we would be happy to discuss the option of a lease of the land to be used for car parking facilities, including decking.”

No one from consultant GL Hearn, acting on behalf of Hammerson, was available for comment.

But SODC leader John Cotton said he understood the county council was not suggesting all of the existing service road should not be blocked up, only part of it.

He added: “Everyone is still on board with the principle of having phase two of the Orchard Centre and all the new shops. Some technical details need resolving and we can look at how more parking spaces can be achieved.”