A COMPANY has defended its decision to build student flats in Cowley Road.

Planning permission for 12 new student flats at 381 Cowley Road was approved by Oxford City Council on Wednesday.

The move was criticised by Divinity Road Residents’ Association chairman Elizabeth Mills, who said the area was turning into a “student’s union”.

But Peter Shepherd, director of Greenings, which owns the building, said the firm had no choice but to create student flats.

Mr Shepherd, 56, said: “My family has owned that building and land since my grandfather, Ernest Shepherd, built it in 1936.

“He was a successful cabinet maker, who at that time employed about 100 to 150 employees and owned three or four pubs.”

Since it was built, the company has used the building for the cabinet-making business, a car showroom and vehicle repair shop.

It was also one of the first buildings used by wine distribution company Majestic Wine, when it was starting out.

Mr Shepherd said: “For the last 20 years or so, it has been used as a gym.

“But unfortunately times have changed and there is just no demand for an old-fashioned sweaty gym, since places like David Lloyd opened up in Oxford.

“So we are left with this building and have nothing we can do with it. It’s become something of a white elephant.”

The ground floor is currently used as Asian food store, the Mirchi Cash and Carry.

Oxford City Council initially gave planning permission for the rest of the building to be used as offices, but Mr Shepherd said there had been no takers. He added: “There is just no demand for office space. We didn’t even have anyone viewing it, let alone renting it.

“We are paying the council £1,000 a month for business rates, and over the years this has amounted to more than £50,000.”

The company has decided to use the space to build 12 en-suite student flats at a cost of £1m.

It hopes they will be finished by October.

Residents nearby raised concerns about parking and said students “did not contribute” to the community.

Mr Shepherd said: “I am aware of people’s concerns about student accommodation, and I agree that family houses should not be being taken over by students.

“But this is a building that has stood empty for some time now.

“The flats will also be aimed at postgraduate students, who we expect to be more responsible than younger students.

“This is a sustainable future for the building.

“We didn’t want it to stand there empty and eventually get pulled down.

“Greenings is committed to further long-term ownership of the building and the support of the community in Cowley Road.”