THE contractors behind a £14.8m heating pipeline project in Headington have retracted their fourth planning application.

Vital Energi yesterday withdrew their application to implement a temporary 27-space car park at the John Radcliffe Hospital, which was set to provide parking for residents living in the area affected by the installation of the inter-hospital pipeline.

A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the application for a car park will now be added to a general application for the whole scheme as it its necessity is "contingent" on the company's success.

It comes after Vital Energi revealed last week that it was seeking expert planning advice for the project - called the Hospital Energy Project - and would put in a master plan in the coming months.

Ashley Malin, project development director at Vital Energi, said: "A public consultation event will be held in May to discuss the project with the stakeholders of Headington and answer any further questions."

The scheme to connect the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals will see the pipeline going up Lime Walk, with the initial application showing the 2.2km pipework going along All Saints Road and on to Stapleton Road, Old Road, London Road and Latimer Road.