THE expansion and redevelopment of Oxford's first power station could begin next year after plans for a 121-bedroom teaching centre were unveiled to the public.

Said Business School has revealed proposals to transform Osney Power Station into an 'executive education centre' for mature professionals on short-stay courses.

But the early drawings show plans to enlarge the existing station - currently used to store artefacts of Oxford University museums - sparking fears it would be too big.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance said care was needed with the subsequent designs to make sure the development was not too bulky and remained sensitive to the area.

She said: "It is an important Oxford building reminding us of when electricity came to the city and sitting alongside the canal in a very public position.

"It is also a very large building and a very visible one from high up points in the city.

"We are pleased that Said Business School want to incorporate some of its character into their new designs but are concerned to ensure that care is taken with the extra building on the site - so that the overall bulk of the building does not dominate from above as well as being sensitive to the neighbourhood."

In its plans, Oxford University promised to repair the brick frontage of the power station - officially closed in 1968 - and make sure the new construction complements the existing roof.

The possibility of constructing the new blocks off-site will also be explored to reduce the number of vehicles accessing Arthur Street.

The 121 bedrooms would be spread across four of the five floors and there would be a courtyard, dining areas and an 'agora' central meeting space.

Specific designs for the new part of the development have yet to be finalised but campaigners and politicians feared the initial mass of the project was too much.

A second consultation will be held in May, following discussions with Oxford Design Review Panel, at which more details will be revealed.

Oxford City Council's board member for corporate strategy and economic development, Bob Price, said the design was 'crucial'.

He said: "The proposals as they are currently presented are unconvincing.

"The scale and height of the new building are disproportionate to the immediate neighbourhood and to Osney Island dwellings.

He added: "The design of such tall buildings will be crucial but it has not been shown in these images."

Said Business School said its inhabitants would be 'mature professionals' from around the world staying for a week at a time, returning to education as part of their career development.

The power station, opposite Osney Island, has been closed since 1968.

A statement from Oxford University said: "Our approach to the building’s heritage is to reuse and repair the best of the existing

brick elevations and retain as much of the internal structure as is practically possible.

"Where new construction is proposed, external cladding materials will be selected to compliment the existing wall and roofing materials of the power station."

It added that the new buildings would not be as tall as the existing parts of the power station.

University spokesman Matt Pickles said another public consultation would take place on March 21 - from 4-7pm in the Thatcher Business Education Centre at Said Business School - as the initial event was hindered by the weather.

It is hoped a planning application will be submitted in the summer and work could begin in spring 2019.