A 13-storey tower block could be built yards from Magdalen Bridge if plans to create student accommodation on a city car park go ahead.

Proposals to provide accommodation for 130 students on the St Clements car park were unveiled on Tuesday.

And traders immediately warned that the loss of car parking would devastate local shops, restaurants and businesses.

The St Clements scheme is set to bring in millions of pounds for Oxford City Council, which owns the car park.

But traders fear the car park’s closure for more than a year during the building work would see customers turn their backs on the St Clements area in droves.

And they also warn of ongoing implications. For the plans to build student blocks on stilts in the car park would see parking spaces reduced from 120 to 62.

Watkin Jones Group, the developer, said it hoped to submit a planning application next month.

A deal with the city council is understood to be close to completion, subject to planning permission being granted.

But some local residents said that the size of the proposed buildings would ruin views of Oxford’s dreaming spires, with others warning it would advance the ‘studentification’ of East Oxford at the expense of facilities for shoppers and the local community.

At a public consultation, the developer set out three options, showing blocks varying in height from three to 13 storeys.

In addition to being close to the River Cherwell, the site neighbours the Angel and Greyhound Meadow.

Option one involves a six-storey building and three other buildings of three and four storeys.

More controversially, option two proposes a 13-storey tower and other buildings of four and five storeys.

The third option is for an 11-storey tower and three other buildings of three, four and five storeys.

The options were on display at the Angel and Greyhound public house on Monday and Tuesday.

Hairdresser Nick Warry, of St Clements Hair, said: “This car park is a lifeline to local businesses. Its loss would have a major impact when we are talking about a double-dip recession. People will not come if they cannot park anywhere. We are already talking about thousands of people abandoning shopping in Oxford. People use the St Clements car park and walk into the city.

“The blocks are not the most attractive buildings. It is meant to be a conservation area. They would be going up next to a park and the river.

“But these presentations are being held in the middle of August when people are away. I just pray that this is not a foregone conclusion and opposition can be organised.”

Martin Agius, of Fishers restaurant, said restaurants would be especially hit.

“Traders here have worked hard to upgrade this area over years. The council must look into keeping some car parking during weekends and in the evenings, rather than closing it completely while the work goes on. I told the developers that the car park frequently floods.”

He said there was concern about any possible conflict of interest with the city council set to financially benefit if planning permission were granted.

Sietske Boeles, spokesman for the East Oxford Residents’ Forum, said: “One of the proposals would see a tower building of more than 35m, twice the height of the Carfax Tower, which would contravene the local plan policy. These proposals would harm protected views in and out of Oxford. Views of the dreaming spires would be lost forever. It would also set a precedent for further high-rise buildings.

“The loss of half the parking spa-ces would result in more parking on surrounding residential streets, and more going into the city.

“We need a moratorium on new purpose-built student housing in East Oxford.”

Nuala Young, a Green city councillor for the St Clements ward, said she understood the council was being paid a ten per cent deposit of £350,000 by the developers.

Paul Gillespie, of the Watkin Jones Group, said the option with a six-storey block, pictured in yellow, had emerged as a clear front-runner.

He said the company hoped to acquire the site from the city on a long lease, with any contract subject to planning consent and the developer contributing £100,000 towards the provision of a temporary car park during building work.

He said the company had won a competition to develop the site for the city council.

“We are trying to work within the brief set by the local authority.

“The main elevations would be brick and designed to blend into the environment.

“Interest in the student accommodation has been expressed by a number of Oxford colleges.”