PLANS to transform sports facilities and student accommodation in the centre of Oxford have been recommended for approval.

The multi-million pound scheme put forward by Balliol College would see several existing buildings bordering St Cross Road and Jowett Walk demolished and replaced.

The college said the work was needed partly because its existing sports pavilion on Masters Field was 'dated' but also because it wanted to provide more accommodation and teaching facilities for staff and pupils.

A 'masterplan' of its proposals submitted to Oxford City Council includes a new pavilion with seating for 100 people, an assembly hall with seating for 200 people, eight accommodation blocks and 285 cycle parking spaces.

It has been supported by council planning officers and city councillors on the west area planning committee will consider it next week.

The college's proposals say: "Balliol College can only provide accommodation for two thirds of its undergraduates. The college would like to house all its undergraduates for their time in Oxford in close proximity to teaching facilities and to modernise and increase its graduate and fellows’ accommodation close to its graduate centre at Holywell Manor.

"The college would also like to provide more teaching and social spaces... and the largest would be an assembly hall.

"Its primary use would be as a lecture theatre and it is envisaged that a programme of lectures and other events will be open to the public."

The plans, submitted by agent Turnberry Planning, said the development would 'unite the fragmentary nature of the current site and create buildings that provide a more unified whole'.

It said the assembly hall – shaped like a barn – had been inspired by a historic barn that used to occupy the site in a similar position and was designed to relate to St Cross Church, based across the road.

Public consultation events were held in June and November 2016, the college said.

Its proposals were praised by heritage watchdog Historic England, which said the Masters Field was a 'sensitive' site but the new buildings would be 'handsome and distinctive'.

It added: "The character of the area as a whole would undoubtedly change, becoming less suburban.

"But any harm would be low and more than outweighed by the opportunity to... improve the quality of the townscape in this part of Oxford."

However some residents criticised the designs, with Esther Boehm, of Mansfield Road, describing the buildings as 'monotonous, blocky, repetitive and boring'.

In a letter to the city council, she wrote: "In my view [they are] not worthy of being in this historical area of the town."

Meanwhile, Dr Clare Hutton, of St Cross Road, said the college was 'trying to squeeze too many students into too small a space'.

Another St Cross Road resident, Sue O'Hare, complained it would 'change the character of this area of Oxford'.

Linda Smith, the city council's leisure boss, has called for the facilities to be open to the public. She said: "This development will result in a loss of sporting facilities. This should be compensated... a good way to achieve this would be through a community use agreement."

The committee will meet on Tuesday at 6pm.