ENTERPRISE Rent-a-Car has been told it cannot demolish two houses and replace them with a new building in Cowley.

The car hire giant wanted to knock down its base at 10 and 12 Watlington Road and replace them with a special car hire facility.

But Oxford City Council turned the plan down on Friday. It said it would have 'resulted in the loss of a substantial amount of employment floorspace and at a Key Protected Employment Site'.

It added Enterprise's plan would 'not make the best or most efficient use of the land' and would be contrary to planning policy.