AN ATTEMPT to reduce the height of the Castle Mill student flats has been thrown out by Oxford University dons.

Critics said the blocks blighted views of Oxford’s historic skyline and a report also found 22 views had been damaged by them.

Last month a motion was put to the university’s parliament, the Congregation, to take the top floor off six of the eight Roger Dudman Way buildings. It was voted out by a margin of 326 votes.

But many members of the Congregation, which is made up of about 4,500 senior university figures, were not present, and so supporters of the motion called a postal ballot.

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The motion to reduce the flats in height was put forward by TV historian and Professor of the History of the Church, Diarmaid MacCulloch, and was backed by a group of heavyweight academics.

Prof MacCulloch said: “We have decisively moved the goalposts by our campaign and gained a great deal.

“Now matters move on to a discussion between the University and the city council and it will be very interesting to see how that develops.”

Last night, Oxford University confirmed the final count was 1,698 votes against and 460 for. The university said it would now pursue its favoured option, screening the student flats with trees and new cladding at a cost of £6m.

Spokesman Stephen Rouse said: “The university remains committed to mitigating the visual impact of the buildings in a way which does not disrupt student accommodation and keeps within the cost estimated for this purpose.”

Next steps would be considered on March 16, he added.