PLANS to screen the Castle Mill student flats have been agreed by councillors, despite concerns it would not repair the damage done to Port Meadow and its views.

The use of trees and different cladding to the building has been proposed by Oxford University and agreed by councillors tonight to further develop plans.

It comes after a report found in 2014 that the views across the dreaming spires and St Barnabas Church had been harmed by the flats.

The £6m screening option put to councillors was one of three suggested by the report which included changing the roof of the building and removing the top floor

Campaign group Save Port Meadow preferred reducing the building height but this option - along with option two to change the roof - was rejected by the university.

Oxford University will now put together designs for changing the buildings appearance such as colour and texture, as well as screening the building with trees.

This design will be put to councillors for approval.