PLANS for 110 new student rooms in central Oxford have been revealed.

The Somerville College scheme would see 120 and 121 Walton Street demolished and replaced, with other existing buildings in Little Clarendon Street extended at the back.

Bedford House, the former school in Walton Street that closed in 1930, would be refurbished and made available to community groups.

This has been supported by the Jericho Community Association, which raised concerns about suggestions it could be bulldozed.

Association chairman Charlotte Christie said: "Somerville College has shared its plans with the JCA.

"Although we initially expressed concerns about Bedford House, we have now been given indications it will be protected.

"We also commented on the massing and bulk of the new building and were pleased to see adjustments have been made to make it less prominent on Walton Street."

Under the plans, the new Walton Street building would provide rooms for 68 undergraduates, with 42 added to the back of 25 to 27 Little Clarendon Street.

Next Thursday, November 10, the college will hold an exhibition about the scheme, which also includes changes to walls along Walton Street, the removal of fences and replacement of solid gates with barred ones, giving views inside.

The exhibition will run from 6pm to 8pm at the college. Interested residents can enter via Walton Street.

Somerville College treasurer Andrew Parker said: "This will provide high-quality accommodation for our students and also let the college engage more with the community.

"We are looking at ways to make Bedford House available for local groups during the summer holidays and we hope that by making things a bit more open, the college's Walton Street boundary will look less foreboding."

If approved by Oxford City Council, the development would allow the college to accommodate all of its undergraduates on site.

Dr Alice Prochaska, college principal, said responses from a previous July consultation were also taken into account, including comments from the Oxford Design Review Panel.

She added: "We feel the proposed scheme is sensitive to the history and character of the Jericho area, and that we are now ready to present our plans to the city council.

"It will also begin the process of opening up the college to Walton Street and the neighbourhood."

It is hoped planning permission will be granted in time to begin work by July 2017, with the first students moving in by September 2019.

The new building fronting Walton Street, named after former college principal Catherine Hughes, has been designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects.

The firm has previously worked for Oxford University on several schemes, including the masterplan for the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter and the redevelopment of the Radcliffe Primary Care Building.

It also designed new student accommodation at St Cross College and the Bishop Edward King Chapel for Ripon Theological College, in Cuddesdon.