THESE pictures reveal the future look of Oxford’s tower blocks, as selected by their residents.

Following recent public consultations, Oxford City Council has released the preferred design concepts for the external appearance of the five tower blocks.

Under the proposals, Evenlode and Windrush Towers in Blackbird Leys will be purple, grey and white, and Hockmore Tower in Cowley will be clad in green, with part of its Portland stone exterior maintained.

Foresters and Plowman Towers will be clad in red terracotta.

The schemes were selected by residents, but the percentage of those voting compared to the total number of residents in each tower was low, ranging from 18 per cent in the 85-flat Plowman Tower to 38 per cent in the 58-flat Hockmore Tower.

City council executive member for housing Scott Seamons said: “We are grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation.

“This is a very exciting project and has given residents of the tower blocks a say in what they want their homes to look like on the outside.

“It is really important for residents and people who live locally to attend future tower block consultations either in person or via our website as your views really do matter.

“Having attended the consultation event in Blackbird Leys Community Centre, for Evenlode and Windrush Towers, I was able to speak to residents about the refurbishment project; all of which were very positive.”

Hockmore Tower is eight storeys high and was built in 1962.

Further external design reviews and resident consultation events will take place in the spring at the detailed design stage, which will include any colour choice of cladding and improvements to the heating systems.

Oxford City Council, which owns and manages the blocks, is working in partnership with EC Harris property consultants to design the improvement work.

The cost of the project is being estimated at £15m.