AN OXFORD college’s controversial planning application has got the go-ahead – despite worries it might have ‘opened the floodgates’ to tall buildings across the city.

New College’s application for the 21.8-metre Warham House tower, in Savile Road, was approved with other buildings on the site at a planning meeting on Tuesday.

Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) had warned last week that tall buildings should only be allowed to exceed Oxford’s 18.2m limit if they add to the city’s dreaming spires.

But the city council’s West Area planning committee said it was happy with changes – which included a height reduction of the tower – after it was deferred from a meeting on April 10.

Strong opposition came from Mansfield College’s principal, Baroness Helena Kennedy, who said the development would overlook her college.

She told the committee: “Not all colleges are equal and this is a case of the big guy [New College] and the little guy [Mansfield College].

“New College is seeking to get its way in this matter without considering its impact on a small, poorer neighbour.”

She claimed the college had paid ‘very little regard to our genuine concerns’ and that the ‘monolithic’ building would have a considerable impact on Mansfield College’s students.

OPT's director Debbie Dance had said earlier that although the New College design was 'of extremely good quality', she wanted the decision made so tall buildings did not get passed because New College's had set a precedent.