A NEW planning application to build accommodation for 140 students on the St Clement’s car park has been submitted to Oxford City Council.

The revised scheme proposes study rooms in two blocks, linked by a glass bridge.

An earlier scheme sparked months of protests from residents, traders and Oxford University – with objections about the loss of parking and the impact on the conservation area near Magdalen Bridge.

Developer Watkin Jones said that as well as reducing the height of buildings, the scheme will provide 80 car parking places, six more than the previous scheme.

As reported in the Oxford Mail last month, plans have been drawn up for a temporary car park during building work for 65 vehicles, off Marston Road, near the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

Clinton Pugh, who owns three restaurants in the area, said: “The design is better than the earlier scheme, which was so appalling it should never have even reached the planning committee stage.”

But he said the temporary car park would not be adequate.

Watkin Jones still plans to appeal against the decision to reject the earlier scheme, but if the new plan was approved by the council, the appeal would be dropped.