DEVELOPERS want to add an extra storey to Jericho’s Castle Mill House apartment complex.

It would create one two-bedroom and two one-bedroom flats in the “brutalist” building, at Juxon Street, by Oxford Canal.

Developer W Lucy has also applied to add balconies to the existing flats and replace the glazing.

It said the new storey would be set back from the edge of the existing building to reduce the impact.

Its planning application says: “Castle Mill House is representative of a typical 1970s building built in the brutalist style.

“While sensible and rational in design and layout, it is brutal and severe in appearance.

“The flat roofs of the existing building are ideally configured to receive an additional level.”

It said the balconies will “update the exterior of the building to give it a contemporary appearance”.

It adds: “The breaking up of the facade and a stepped top to the building will soften the building appearance.”

Property director Ian Ashcroft said: “It is a fair assumption that those people who live on the top floor will need to vacate because with the best will in the world we cannot expect them to put up with that kind of disruption.

“It is our intention to keep as many as people as possible in the building.

“It in our interests and the residents’ interests to rehouse them but I cannot give any guarantees at this stage.”

Residents could be moved to other properties owned by the firm while work takes place.

Francis Hitching, who has lived in the block for 12 years, said: “I would only be worried about it if there is the possibility of having to move while building work is going on. Otherwise I can’t see a problem.”

Peter Thompson, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said the proposals were “unobjectionable” and would probably be an improvement.

Two planning applications have been submitted – for the balcony and extra storey – to Oxford City Council.