A NEW 674-room student accommodation and retail complex has been labelled a 'catastrophe' after developers BT revealed their plans for the first time.

Householders and councillors spoke out as plans for the major development at the 3.9 acre Cowley Barracks site in Oxford, to include a management suite, associated parking and a retail shop and cafe, were put on display.

Developers revealed that to tackle potential traffic issues, the Oxford Brookes University students would not be permitted to have cars while studying. But councillors argued this would be unenforceable.

Speaking at the exhibition at St Francis Church, Hollow Way, Cowley, Lye Valley councillor Liz Brighouse said: “This is a catastrophe. We had [student accommodation] Slade Park across the road that was supposed to be car-free but Oxford Brookes can't enforce people still having cars.

"The road infrastructure just can't support this level of development. We can't take any more development that's going to bring more traffic to the area.

"People are having real problems here because the roads are just swamped with traffic. I will be fighting against it. What we need here is affordable family housing, not student housing."

Fellow Lye Valley councillor Pat Kennedy said: "Some people are concerned about the car-free nature of the area. Just how far is it possible to enforce it?

"The students are issued with bus passes, so hopefully the students will use them, but it's a concern."

One resident of neighbouring Hundred Acres Close said the proposed development would overlook his and his neighbour’s properties, breaching their privacy.

Jason Longton, 46, said: "We are opposing it, because it will overlook my back garden.

"Some of my neighbours feel the same way. If they are going to be two and-a-half stories here, it will overlook the garden – and then we are going to have no privacy.”

Developers, however, argued that the scheme would meet a clear demand from students.

Property Manager at BT Rob Maund said: “We are very excited about it. There has been no evidence to suggest that the student demand isn’t there and it is very much required.

“The first meeting with the Oxford Design Review Panel was very constructive. We came away with a very positive feeling.

“A number of local residents have said they support the scheme. It is not a new scheme that has been in development for the last few months, but has been in development for a number of years.

"It fits in with the local plan and is supported by local policies."

Addressing concerns about the enforceability of the proposed car-free zone he said that it would be treated like a tenancy agreement, and that students could be removed if they were found to be in breach.

Planners hope to submit a formal application by the end of November.