OXFORD could see a rise in the number of tall buildings as parts of efforts to battle the housing crisis.

Planning boss and councillor Alex Hollingsworth says the city will have to look up as it tries find space for up to 11,000 homes by 2036.

It is hoped thousands of these could be go on the edge of the city but a large number will still have to be built inside Oxford's boundaries – where space is increasingly tight.

Strict rules prevent tall buildings in the historic city centre, so officials are looking at shopping areas in Blackbird Leys, Templars Square in Cowley, Littlemore, Headington and Summertown as they consider new developments of six and seven storeys.

Mr Hollingsworth said Oxford City Council staff will be at several events over the next five weeks to get people's views on what Oxford should look like in 20 years' time.

Opinions will be taken into account as officials draw up the new Local Plan, which sets out where development can take place.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Mr Hollingsworth said: "There are several challenges facing the city and we want to get people's thoughts on how we face up to them.

"If we can't go outwards, the opportunity therefore might be vertical rather than horizontal.

"We need to preserve what is good about Oxford and at the same time make sure people have somewhere to live that is also affordable.

"By 2036 a whole generation of people who have not even been born yet will be adults, so everything we do now will create the city they will live in."

Six and seven-storey buildings are common in European cities like Barcelona, Vienna and Berlin. They are seen as more efficient because they can feature flats or apartments above shops, community centres and transport hubs.

As well as the suburbs, Mr Hollingsworth said this type of building could be considered in the Oxpens and possibly Osney Mead industrial estate, which are both set to be redeveloped, but not in other parts of the city centre.

This is because the area is covered by protected "view cones" to stop views being spoiled by obstructive buildings.

He stressed buildings as tall as the city's five tower blocks – some 15-storeys high – were unlikely to be looked at, but there would be no upper limit.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance warned any taller buildings would have to be of the "highest quality".

She said: "We often think the city council has misunderstood the view cones, which were always intended to be examples and not definitive.

"All the views matter, in and out, so whatever goes here should be of the highest quality and add to the skyline of the Dreaming Spires and our enjoyment of the city.

"Mistakes have been made in the past and we would hate to see more made."

Retired barman Timmy Keaveney, who lives in Hockmore Tower in Cowley, above Templars Square Shopping Centre, said he was not against six or seven-storey buildings.

The 63-year-old said: "Personally I would not mind but I think quite a few people living in houses in this area would object.

"You obviously need to have more houses though because the population keeps going up."

Artist and writer Ted Dewan, 55, said he was not opposed to taller buildings in Summertown if they were well-designed.

The father-of-one, who lives in Beechcroft Road, added: "If it offers something good for the skyline and somewhere good to live in, then I don't think height is necessarily an issue."

HAVE YOUR SAY EVENTS:

Saturday, June 25, 11am-5pm at Flofest, Florence Park

Saturday, July 2, 12pm-4pm at Leys Festival, Blackbird Leys Park

Saturday, July 9, 10am-4pm at West Oxford Fun Day, Botley Park

Sunday, July 10, 12pm-5pm at Cowley Road Carnival, Cowley Road

Saturday, July 16, 10am-1pm at East Oxford Farmer's and Community Market, East Oxford Primary School

Wednesday, July 20, 10am-5pm at Gloucester Green Market, Gloucester Green

Saturday, July 23, 12pm-7pm at Eid Festival, Rosehill Community Centre and Park

Saturday, July 24, 9.30am-12pm at South Oxford Farmer's and Community Market, South Oxford Community Centre

Saturday, July 30, 11am-5pm at Grandpont Playday, South Oxford Adventure Playground