FINAL designs for the controversial Castle Mill student flats have signified "the end of the road" for campaigners who conceded views of Port Meadow would be spoilt for years to come.

Oxford University has revealed proposed changes to the buildings to reduce visual harm, which includes tree planting, a 'mid-tone' colour change and timber cladding.

The changes will be formally submitted to Oxford City Council at the end of January but after almost four years fighting for change Save Port Meadow group member Sietske Boeles, said the campaign was now at its end.

Dr Boeles said: "The buildings will remain an eyesore and the view of Port Meadow will remain spoilt for many years to come.

"In terms of the campaign it's coming to the end of the road and the final outcome is not what we wanted."

She added: "Actually given the limited parameters the design team have done an impressive job and deserve credit - it will certainly be an improvement, but they have made the best of a bad job."

The CPRE Oxfordshire chairwoman also called for a proper maintenance plan to be drawn up to make sure the landscape changes were monitored over the next 20 years.

The campaign which was launched in December 2012 eventually led to study being carried out by consultants on behalf of the university in 2014, which found the flats harmed views across the city and of St Barnabas Church from Port Meadow.

The group demanded they be reduced in height, but this idea was rejected by the university’s ‘parliament’ – the Congregation – in a landmark vote in 2015.

A £6m screening option was chosen instead and was revealed to the public last week after a consultation in July.

Campaign group organiser Toby Porter said a reduction in height would have been the only way to salvage the views.

He said: "That was an option the university refused to consider, in spite of overwhelming community support for it when put out for consultation.

"So the buildings remain an eyesore, and the views and experience of Port Meadow remain spoilt.

"Within the limited parameters approved by the City Council in February, the independent architectural design team deserves credit for listening and taking on board feedback on their first proposals, and doing what they can to make the best of a bad job.

"But it remains lipstick on a pig."

The selected mitigation includes bronzed aluminium panels around windows to reduce 'visual prominence' and timber slats covering the tall stairwell blocks.

The sides of some of the Roger Dudman Way flats will be lined with climbing vegetation gables facing both east and west will be made darker and trees planted to grow along the front of the buildings.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson said: "There's no way to make a silk purse out of a pig's ear but given the circumstances I think the designs are acceptable.

"It's been a long and tedious saga and it's extremely unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this position - the views of St Barnabas Church have been severely compromised."

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance told The Oxford Times the Trust had re-written to the university proposing the building be taken down after a period of 25 years and rebuilt "for future generations." to enjoy Oxford as it should be.

Professor of the History of the Church, Diarmaid MacCulloch, who put forward the motion to reduce the height of the flats in December 2014, said the replacement was now needed.

He said: "We do need to keep in mind that these buildings even when the upgrading is complete, will need to be replaced with something more basically acceptable in thirty years' time."

He added: "It is clear that lessons have been learned both by the University and City through this long-drawn-out affair, and that the Save Port Meadow Campaign deserves great thanks from Oxford."

A spokesman for Oxford University said: "While the buildings do provide much-needed accommodation for more than 300 students, we have nonetheless learned lessons from Castle Mill and we have strengthened our consultation processes for all future planning applications as a result.

"We are delighted that the community has been so willing to engage with us on recent buildings, and we hope that this is leading to better outcomes for everyone."