AN OLD social space will be knocked down and replaced with student accommodation.

Councillors on Oxford City Council’s planning committee voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to approve plans to demolish the unused Cowley Conservative Club to build student flats.

The site, located at 17 and 19 Between Towns Road in Cowley, would see 189 student rooms, as well as communal spaces, built by Cantay Estates Ltd.

The application has been deemed controversial in the past with residents complaining that the city does not need any more student flats.

However, despite these previous concerns no objections were raised at the council's planning meeting.

The site will house students from both Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford.

Councillor Louise Upton did raise the question over whether there would be maintenance staff at the accommodation blocks 24 hours a day, to ensure students do not make too much noise.

Officers confirmed that there would be staff on the site at all times, however, reminded councillors that the space was previously used as a social club, so residents would be used to some noise from the building.

The existing building was erected in the 1920s, however, only the front façade remains from this period.

The club was closed at the end of 2015 and has not been used since.