Oxford University is to renew its campaign to create a £29m book depository at the Osney Mead industrial estate.

It has confirmed that it will be appealing against Oxford City Council's decision to throw out the scheme, rather than seeking an alternative site as critics had hoped.

The university sees the creation of the depository, holding 8m books, as crucial to the long-term future of the Bodleian Library, as well as to its plans to refurbish the New Bodleian, in Broad Street.

But opponents of the scheme immediately accused the university of trying to deflect criticism, by announcing its plan to appeal just before Christmas, in a public notice in The Oxford Times, sister paper to the Oxford Mail.

City councillors refused planning permission to build the depository because of concerns over possible flooding problems and the impact the proposed building could have on views of Oxford's dreaming spires.

The university's decision to fight on is now expected to lead to a costly public inquiry.

Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust, said: "It's disappointing. We had hoped that the university would have taken the council decision more seriously and looked for another site."

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said: "I'm sorry to hear that they are appealing when it's clear what strong opposition there is to the development on this site.

"There seems to be general agreement in the city that an alternative site should be found."

But John Power, a former Lord Mayor of Oxford, who lives in Ferry Hinksey Road, which leads to Osney Mead, said: "I think most residents around here would much prefer the university to have this site, than it being sold for industrial development."

Colin Cook, a city councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: "I think the university will have difficulty when the reasons for refusal are examined, especially given the fact it went to the full council. The democratic process has spoken."

Plans for the depository were initially approved by the strategic development committee by six votes to five in October.

But days later, 14 councillors signed a petition to ensure the scheme was decided by the full council.

The university says the depository is needed because it is running out of space to house books, with its collection growing by 170,000 a year.

No-one from the university was available to comment on the appeal.