The architects behind Oxford University's new Said Business School came under fire at a packed public meeting for producing a boring building.

About 100 people crammed into Oxford Town Hall last night to hear a presentation by architects Jeremy Dixon and Edwards Jones on latest plans for the £20m business school, off Park End Street.

Members of the public then got the chance to put views in an often fiery question-and-answer session.

Most criticism surrounded whether the new school, to be funded by millionaire Arab businessman Wafic Said, would live up to its billing of creating "an impressive western gateway to Oxford".

Jericho resident and lecturer in architecture at Oxford Brookes University, Dr Nigel Hiscock, branded the view of the building from Oxford rail station as "sterile". He told the meeting: "The basis of your design is that the site is a giant infill site. What we are going to see when we come out of the station is a wall of yellow brick."

Geoffrey Randell, from Summertown questioned why there will be no shops facing the rail station.

He said: "I am terribly disappointed by what I see. The facade does not contain the active edge you were persuaded to introduce in the beginning."

The design of a clock tower to be part of the school also came under fire.

Mr Dixon said the criticisms would be considered before final plans were drawn up. He told the meeting: "We want a modern well-monitored building that does not try too hard to compete with other buildings in Oxford. We would never compete." The designs were backed by Maureen Christian, chairman of the city council planning committee, who chaired the meeting.

Plans for the 10,000 sq m development include a steel canopy and glazed front entrance hall and library facing Park End Street.

Work on dismantling the listed LMS station building is due to start in the next two weeks. It is to be rebuilt at Quainton, Bucks.

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