Oxford University needs to build more than 3,000 student rooms to keep pace with its expansion over the next 20 years.

In a report on the future of the university, Oxford City Council planning officers said colleges should only increase student numbers if they were prepared to house them in purpose-built accommodation.

The university is expected to continue its one per cent growth in student numbers each year -- an increase which is likely to lead to a need for 100,000 square metres of extra floorspace in central Oxford over the next 20 years.

Currently, around 86 per cent of students live in college accommodation, though the university believes this can be increased to 89 per cent in the future. However, this can only be achieved by providing 3,211 new rooms.

In the past ten years, the university has built more than 3,000 student rooms.

In an issue paper, prepared by the council as part of its local plan review, planning policy manager Patricia Stevenson said: "If this growth were achievable then it would allow the university and colleges to grow but would limit their impact on the general housing stock.

"However, the colleges will need to put forward acceptable sites to accommodate students. Potential growth should be met in a manner that is sustainable for Oxford."

Some of the new accommodation could be built on the site of the Radcliffe Infirmary following the hospital's move to the John Radcliffe site in Headington.

Ms Stevenson said: "The site is potentially capable of accommodating almost half of the university's land requirements and it is well located near the centre's academic core."

Other potential sites are Oriel College Playing Field and the sites of the St Clement's and Worcester Street car parks, which have been earmarked for redevelopment.

More general university expansion could also take place on the Acland Hospital site on Banbury Road and the old coroner's court in Floyds Row.

Ms Stevenson added: "The universities' needs should be catered for, but there is a need to strike the right balance between the growth of the university and other land use requirements in the city centre."

An Oxford University spokesman said: "We house as many students as we possibly can, but it varies greatly from college to college.

"The figures provided in the Oxford Local Plan Review suggest a maximum increase of one per cent per annum. Current plans envisage the majority of any such growth being graduate students.

"Colleges aren't providing graduate students with accommodation so they will have to find other housing. However, they won't live anywhere near as centrally as undergraduates and may live outside the city."

He added: "The university contributed to the public consultation phase of the review of the city's structure plan and will continue to work closely with city planners to explore all viable opportunities."