Controversial plans to revamp Oxford Brookes University’s Headington campus will now be examined by all city councillors at a specially-convened meeting.

Last week, the strategic development control committee, which examines major planning applications affecting the city, narrowly approved plans for the £150m development.

The committee gave the university permission to start work on the scheme, which will house the university’s library, IT suite, lecture theatre and student union.

But people living in Headington handed the council a 1,064-name petition opposing the plan, and the application has now been “called in” and referred to a meeting involving all 48 city councillors, at a date to be fixed.

The call-in was triggered by David Rundle, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Headington and leader of the council’s opposition group.

He told the Oxford Mail: “The call-in now has the 12 signatures needed and the application will go to a special meeting, hopefully in September.

“I have an open mind about the application, but this is so important and raises so many issues it is crucial the process is seen to be as fair as possible to all concerned.”

Colin Cook, the Labour city councillor with responsibility for city development, said: “It is not unusual for a large and controversial application, which has been dealt with by the strategic development control committee, to be examined again by a meeting of all councillors.

“I’m never convinced that full council is the best debating chamber for planning issues but it does give everyone a chance to have their say.

“If councillors approve the application, then it will not be referred to a planning inspector, but residents opposed to it could call for the Government to intervene.

“There are lots of people in Oxford who have strong views about Oxford Brookes and their developments across the city.

“There are only a small number of homes significantly affected by these plans but there have been hundreds of objections.”

Oxford Civic Society spokesman Tony Joyce said: “The way Oxford Brookes University develops its campus for the long-term is something that will have a lasting impact on the whole of Oxford, so it is of interest to everyone in the city.

“There is a bigger question, which is examined in the council’s core strategy, about how Brookes lives happily with its neighbours in Oxford.

“But councillors will have to be careful to consider planning issues alone when they decide on the application.”

Residents, led by campaign group Headington Action, fear the six-storey student centre will create light and noise pollution.

Brookes says the new development is vital for the university’s future.