Neighbours opposing an eco-friendly Oxford University energy centre include a professor who specialises in green energy.

The single-storey building would heat student flats at Summertown House in Banbury Road, as part of a proposed major revamp.

But Prof Rodney Eatock Taylor, of Upland Park Road, an expert in wave energy, fears the scheme could be environmentally damaging.

The Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering believes the university has gone for new and largely untried technology in a residential area.

He warned North Oxford residents could be troubled by noise from the plant, with neighbours also concerned about fumes.

Summertown House currently includes 133 flats in four blocks providing homes for postgraduate students and their families.

The university wants to revamp the eastern block, with proposals to reclad the building and make changes to create five more units.

But it is the proposed energy centre ,with a gas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit and gas boilers to provide heat and hot water initially for 75 flats, that is the focus of opposition.

Residents say it would disturb the peace of their gardens, while they will lose light because of the size of the building.

Prof Eatock Taylor, a fellow of St Hugh’s College from 1989 to 2009, said in a letter to Oxford City Council: “We understand that there is one example in the country of the currently proposed combined heat and power unit. It appears that not much detail is known about the likely noise from the reciprocating engine, fans and generator.”

He claims the nature of the energy centre means noise levels would hardly be reduced in the summer, with an environmental noise survey submitted with the planning application “not giving grounds for optimism.”

The professor said neighbours living closer to the site would suffer “visual intrusion” from a proposed new flue, with real anxiety about gases. He added: “Apart from being unsightly, they might be detrimental to garden plants.”

Dorothy Walsh, of Upland Park Road, whose garden backs on to the site, said: “I don’t think there’s enough information about the noise and fumes coming out of that chimney.”

Oxford University’s design statement document said the energy centre aimed to reduce carbon emissions.

Spokesman Matt Pickles said: “We have carried out a noise survey on site, and can confirm that both the energy centre and the equipment within it will be acoustically attenuated (sound proofed) so that we meet or exceed statutory requirements.

“Our engineers have confirmed that there will be no pollution or air quality issues with the gas flue’s positioning.”

The height of the building is 3.7m with an extra metre for the chimney. The university said noise levels from the centre, at the nearest residential window, would not exceed 37 decibels in daytime and 28 decibels at night.