PLANS for 60 student rooms in a historic house and two long-vacant office blocks in East Oxford have been lodged with the city council.

A decision by council planning officers to reject outline plans to convert Canterbury House in Reliance Way and two other buildings into student accommodation was overturned following Government intervention last month.

The plans revealed that Canterbury House - home of well known Oxford photographer Henry Taunt from 1889 until his death in 1922 - and office blocks Adams House and Rivera House would be converted into 38 student study rooms.

A new three-storey block would also be built on the site housing a further 22 students.

The local authority had ruled the outline plans would harm the area's character and take away valuable employment space but the Government's planning inspector disagreed.

The city council was also unconvinced the two office blocks at Adams House and Rivera House – vacant since they were built more than two years ago – had been properly marketed.

But the planning inspector was also satisfied estate agent Carter Jonas and subsequently Cluttons had taken a reasonable approach to market the office space.

The plans, submitted by developer Cantay Estates, can be commented on until June 23 and a decision is expected to be made in August.