Oxford Brookes University's housing plan approved on third attempt

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How the new block will lookImage source, MICA & LDA/OBU
Image caption,
Oxford City Council officers had recommended the plan was approved and warned the authority could lose an appeal

Oxford Brookes University's plan to demolish and rebuild student housing blocks has been approved.

An application to knock down 12 buildings and replace them at its Clive Booth Student Village in Headington was rejected by Oxford City Council last month.

But 13 councillors called in the plan and it was approved by its planning review committee on Thursday.

The university said it was "pleased" and work will begin in December.

The application was the third time a scheme had been proposed for the site. An initial plan was rejected in June 2019.

Currently about 640 students live on the site and the development will increase capacity to about 1,200.

Image source, MICA & LDA/OBU
Image caption,
The university said work to build demolish buildings and build their replacements will start in December

Council officers said the buildings on the eastern half of the student village - first built in the 1970s - are "outdated" and need replacing.

But residents' groups have said more students will "cause substantial harm" to the Headington Hill Conservation Area.

A member of the public shouted "shame on you, city council" when the application was approved, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

In a statement, the university said the project will "provide an increased number of high-quality rooms" and help cut the number of students living in private rented accommodation across Oxford.

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