THE £200m landmark buildings proposed by Oxford University on the former Radcliffe Infirmary site have been given a guarded welcome by local civic groups.

The university has won plaudits for opening up views of the Radcliffe Observatory, for the glass pavilion and the underground library at the heart of the new city centre quarter.

But some of the buildings have been dismissed as resembling office blocks.

The plans for a five-storey maths institute and humanities building, intended to be the centrepieces of the 10-acre Observatory Quarter, went on show at an exhibition in St Luke’s Chapel.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Tony Joyce said: “We are pleased with some of the views that are going to be created of the Radcliffe Observatory.

“But with the university having decided to cram so many individual departments into large buildings, it was always going to be difficult for them to escape from something just resembling a large office building.

“I’m afraid it looks a bit more like the University of London in Bloomsbury than Oxford.

“Some people feel that the blocks look rather boring.

“I think a great deal will depend on the materials they use.”

Mr Joyce was a prominent campaigner against Oxford Brookes University’s scheme for a new campus in Headington, which was rejected by Oxford City Council.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance said: “Clearly Oxford University would be putting a great deal on the site and we will be looking at it carefully in the hope that it can add something to Oxford and its skyline. It represents a huge opportunity in this part of Oxford and it is important we get it right.”

The first planning application, dealing with the demolition and refurbishment of former hospital buildings, was approved this month.

A planning application for the second phase will be submitted to the city council at the end of October, with the university hoping building work could begin by the end of next year.

Dr Sarah Thomas, director of university library services, said: “The new library will be a wonderful opportunity to have a 21st century library that fosters community and that is designed to accommodate modern technologies to complement our rich print collections.”