OXFORD University could be ordered to reduce the height of new student accommodation following concerns about its impact on the view from ancient Port Meadow.

A petition signed by 1,666 residents claims construction of the blocks has already damaged the view of the city from Port Meadow.

Oxford University secured planning permission in February for student accommodation at Castle Mill in Roger Dudman Way and building work is well under way.

The scheme will create 312 flats and bedsits over four and five storeys on unused railway land near the station.

At Oxford City Council’s meeting on Monday, councillors ordered a report on how the impact of the new student accommodation can be reduced.

Following the meeting, council leader Bob Price told the Oxford Mail the report will consider all options.

He said: “Ultimately we could order them to reduce the height.”

Petition organiser Sushila Dhall, a former Green party councillor and central Oxford resident, told councillors at the meeting: “I set up this petition because of my enormous distaste walking across the meadow and not being able to see the spire of St Barnabas.

“If people had thought it was going to look like that they would have protested in their hundreds.

“The view of the dreaming spires is being destroyed.”

She also claimed the plans for the development showing a view from Wolvercote were misleading, saying that a thin red line drawn below the tree line had made it appear that there was to be no damage to the view.

Her speech was followed by applause from a packed public gallery.

Councillor Oscar Van Nooijen said: “That image was one of about 20 images presented – if what is being built is not in conformity with these images, it is not what was given planning permission for.”

And councillor Elise Benjamin said: “The building work needs to stop until it is absolutely clear how building work has deviated from the planning permission.”

But councillor John Tanner said: “There are lots of pressures on the city council – we need to preserve green spaces and we also need to provide housing for people and accommodation for students.

“It is not always easy to get that balance exactly right.”

Mr Price said the impact on the view was considered by planning officers and added: “There was a very well attended public exhibition. There was a lot of consultation.”

He added: “If we do get that report very soon we can take action.”

University spokesman Matt Pickles said: “We have noted the petition against the development and we continue to urge opponents of the project to reserve their final judgement until the buildings have been finished and the trees between Castle Mill and Port Meadow have grown to full height.

“The university held a very inclusive public consultation, advertising and sending a press release and inviting councillors, local residents, residents associations, commercial organisations and heritage societies to a consultation meeting.

“The heights of the buildings were discussed in the consultation, and the drawings of projected views were done by architects in good faith.”