WEST Oxford residents are hoping councillors will rethink their decision to give the go-ahead for a student block of flats in their street.

Last week Oxford city councillors voted six to one in favour, with two abstentions, to allow a controversial 74-room block to be built on land in Osney Lane.

Yesterday, residents of Mill Street, whose homes are next door, discovered they had won a second chance to change councillors’ minds.

The decision has been called in for review at a council meeting next week after 12 councillors agreed the details should be looked at again.

Amanda Whiting, who has lived in Mill Street for 22 years, said she would be meeting to explain the impact the building would have on her home.

She said: “We want to show the councillors what the impact will be. We have got an artist’s impression which used the plans to mock up what it might look like.

“And we have measured lengths of string to the same height of the building and have attached helium balloons to show just how tall and imposing the building will be.”

Nik Lyzba, of the agent John Phillips Planning Consultancy, has denied the buildings would be overbearing as they were more than 33-metres from the back of the homes, with an inset top floor and windows facing away from nearby houses.

The agent was last night unavailable for comment.

The decision will be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday, July 27.