A controversial plan to build student accommodation on the site of a former coaching house has been allowed.

Despite being recommended for refusal by planning officers, city councillors have given the go ahead to the 29 flat scheme in central Oxford.

Eckersley Oxford language school wants to build a part four and part seven-storey building next door to the college in Friars Entry, by Gloucester Green. The block will fill a space behind a fence in Friars Entry, demolishing an electricity sub station.

According to the Oxford Architectural and Historical Society the site was at one time a stable or coach house and was probably associated with the Red Lion public house.

Officers said the application should be refused because only a small proportion of the language students attend on a full-time basis and stay for the whole year.

According to Oxford City Council core strategy new student accommodation should only be given the go ahead to students in full-time education on courses of at least one academic year.

The officers said the space would be better used for apartments which could go some way to solving Oxford’s housing crisis. But councillors at the West Area Planning committee ignored the advice and voted three against and six in favour of the application.

Speaking after the meeting, Iffley Fields councillor Elise Benjamin said she was disappointed with the decision.

She said: “My main concerns are very much in line with the planning officers.

“These students are not going to be here for the whole year.

“I also think the scheme offers inappropriate communal space.”

Student flat applications have been causing a headache for residents across the city.

Councillors recently approved plans for 19 student flats in Cowley.

The two two-storey buildings for study bedrooms will be built at the site of a disused tool hire shop at the junction of Hollow Way and Horspath Road.But the West Area Planning committee voted to throw out plans to build 141 student bedrooms in three blocks above the council-owned St Clement’s car park.

The decision is believed to be going through the council’s ‘calling-in’ process, whereby a decision is brought back to an appeals meeting for review.