Students could soon be living above the Five Guys burger restaurant in Oxford if plans are approved.

A planning application has been put forward to create 55 rooms on floors above the eatery in Magdalen Street.

The city council is now considering the application for 13-15 Oxenford House.

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The plans propose a change of use of the first to fourth floors and part of the basement and ground floor to provide 55 en-suite student rooms.

The owners are also planning a roof extension to the front elevation above the fourth floor and a two-storey roof extension to the rear elevation above the third floor.

There will also be alterations to the basement to create a plant area and bin and cycle storage.

And there will be a new entrance lobby to Friar's Entry with a reception.

Oxford Mail: Student rooms are planned

It is understood that the Hindu Study Centre would have to move out, but the offices above them are already empty.  

Planning consultants Bidwells put the application forward on behalf of Croudace Properties.

If the application is approved it is likely there would be lots of colleges who would appreciate such a central location for their students.

Jesus College led the way by demolishing the former Northgate House in Cornmarket and then replacing it with the multi-million pound student digital hub, which includes new student rooms around a stunning rooftop quadrangle.

The Cheng Yu Tung building took several years to complete and was opened to undergraduates in October.

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Some retail units on the ground floor of the building have been retained.

So far it has been announced that HSBC Bank will be moving in, from its current location at Carfax, and a branch of the Cosy Club will also be opening later this year.

Oxford Mail: Student rooms could be built above Five Guys

Cosy Club is a national chain of cocktail bars/restaurants.

It appears that so far there has only been one objection to the plans for Oxenford House.

John O'Donoghue said in his letter to planners: "My objection is that the city council - that does so much good work in housing and so many other services to the citizens in this city - are unable, or unwilling, to specify that this conversion be tailored to the needs of local people, as opposed to students.

"We have many units, old and new developments for our visiting students.

"At the same time, we have a shortage of affordable flats and quality single person accommodation for our young oxford-born people.

"Please partner with a housing association, or purchase this for the city, and provide for the local long-term populace, to relieve the crisis that we the residents and our families are experiencing."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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