Bill Heine has submitted plans to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register for the famous ‘shark house’ to remain in the skies of the city for future generations to see.

The 73-year-old won a two year battle with his local council in 1992 to keep a 25-foot fibreglass shark sculpture on the roof of his house.

The battle to preserve the sculpture for future generations comes after Mr Heine, a radio presenter, announced he had terminal cancer last November.

In a supporting letter which formed part of the application to nominate the ‘Headington Shark’, group member Cicely Havely wrote that: “Although the shark was originally greeted with suspicion, it is loved by locals who would be horrified if anything ever happened to it.”

She also revealed that, due to the unique nature of the fibreglass shark, it was hard to fit “easily into the language of the application form”.

Now that the application form has been submitted, it will be forwarded to Oxford City Council for consideration before it can be officially added to the register to join the likes of The Rusty Bicycle on Magdalen Road and the Roger Bannister running track on Iffley Road which were both added when the list was created in 2015.

If it is accepted, the property will not be protected legally, however the list aims to influence planning decisions in favour of a way that will conserve local character.

Councillor Mohammed Altaf- Kahn said he is expecting the decision on whether the decision will be approved to take a couple of weeks.