BUILT in the 1950s, Blackbird Leys looks like many other estates up and down the country.

But if Oxford City Council gets its way two of its most iconic buildings will become much more eye-catching.

As part of the council’s £15m bid to revamp all five of its tower blocks, it is putting forward proposals to reclad them in bright, vivid colours.

Evenlode and Windrush Towers in Blackbird Leys could become either purple or green, with special panelling which will change colour when viewed from different angles.

Meanwhile Hockmore Tower in Cowley could be clad in either green or red – though with part of its Portland stone exterior maintained.

Foresters and Plowman Towers will be clad in either red or white terracotta with yellow stripes.

Plowman resident Syd Franklin said: “I think it is great, because you hear so many rumours about the tower blocks getting knocked down and we don’t know what’s going on.

“To hear they are spending money on them to improve things is a load off your mind. I’m a massive Oxford United fan so I think the yellow is great.”

Evenlode Tower resident Tanya Hutchinson, 35, said: “I like purple, it is my favourite colour and it is about time they did this.

“They are cold, damp and draughty but I am used to seeing them the way they are.”

Between the tower blocks, which were all built in the 1960s, there are a total of 348 flats which are home to more than 700 people.

Previously the council has considered demolishing the towers but it has said it would not make sense to do so and build only a few houses in their footprints when Oxford has such a dire need for affordable housing.

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We have proposed the colours as we want the tower blocks to look modern and contemporary as well as eye-catching. These are proposals and no final decision has been made yet.”

She added that the cost of the colour-changing panelling was not yet known. Work should start in 2015 and take three years to complete.

s Residents can have their say at a consultation held in Templar Square Shopping Centre for Hockmore Tower on Tuesday between 2pm and 8pm, while a consultation for Evenlode and Windrush towers will be held in Blackbird Leys Community Centre on Wednesday between the same times.