MORE than 1,000 new student rooms could replace an Oxford 'student village' if plans are approved next week by Oxford City Council.

If the application is given the green light, the demolition will begin on eight blocks at Oxford Brookes University’s Clive Booth Student Village off Garne Way in Headington.

The major revamp will then continue with the building of 1,077 student rooms along with extra communal space like kitchens, lounges and space for 'pastoral care'.

In their plans, the university said the new site would deliver more rooms than the current blocks and said this would prevent students living in and paying extra for rooms in private rented properties dotted around the city.

Planners added that most of the buildings in the Clive Booth Student Village had ‘naturally become tired’ and could no longer meet ‘students' expectations’.

The university said around 3,800 students were living in rooms in the private sector.

It also outlined the aims of the new towers, which will be given a 'woodland' finish based on the colours of leaves changing through the seasons.

It explained that the blocks will be more affordable, with round-the-clock pastoral care on site for students.

It added that the development would extend the natural green space, protect nearby historic woodlands, and add shortcuts between the university buildings which members of public could use.

Adrian Stokes, the interim director of estates and campus services said: “We are pleased to have submitted plans to redevelop part of our existing Clive Booth halls of residence, which will benefit students and the wider community.

“The proposed development will provide high-quality student accommodation and also improve the surrounding area through extending and enhancing green spaces.

“As part of the university’s student residential strategy, the increased number of rooms within the university’s estate will help to reduce the number of students living in private rented accommodation and support efforts to manage local housing demand.”

Tenants will be able to live in the new blocks on a 38 to 50 week contract.

As it is, the student village is made up of 11 two and three-storey blocks, eight of which will be demolished.

These eight were built in the 1980s and have the total bed space for 455.