STUDENTS and elderly people could share “chance encounters” in a rose garden under plans to add college accommodation to a care home site.

University College and Fairfield Residential Home have proposed moving 29 elderly residents into a new building on the site in Banbury Road, Oxford, and housing 29 students in the old one.

Six new student homes – to house a further 30 undergraduates – would also be built.

The move has been proposed because staff fear the home – opened in 1947 and whose residents have an average age of 93 – could fail future inspections and say newer facilities are needed.

Fairfield chairman John Cole said: “This is a great opportunity to demonstrate how Oxford should be at its best, with colleges and local charities co- operating.”

Oxford Architects, who designed the scheme, said they hope elderly residents of the care home and students will share the garden space.

In documents submitted to Oxford City Council, the firm wrote: “The concept is based on a collection of interconnected secret garden spaces.”

At the heart of the site, the firm added, would be an “intimate shared space...allowing for relaxation and encouraging chance encounters between residents and students”.

It represents the final version of plans put forward by the college and home, after two public exhibitions and feedback from top architects on the Oxford Design Panel.

According to University College, the design panel said the scheme was “ambitious and inspiring”.

College bursar Frank Marshall told the Oxford Mail: “University College is fortunate to be part of a wonderfully diverse and lively community in North Oxford.

“The proposed development would ensure its continued diversity enabling the elderly to remain in their community.”

City councillor Liz Wade said she backed the proposals, but had doubts about whether the different generations would actually come into contact.

A briefing for North Oxford residents on the plans is due to be held tonight, at Maison Francaise, in Norham Road, from 6pm to 8pm. The exhibition will show the architects’ plans with a scale model and representatives from the home and college will be on hand to answer questions.