REJECTED plans for a block of student flats in Botley Road are set to go before the Planning Inspectorate after an appeal was lodged.

Proposals to demolish a garage in favour of a three-storey student block were turned down earlier this year because they would “appear cramped and out of keeping in the street”.

St Aldates Property Ltd has appealed against Oxford City Council’s refusal of the plans to the Secretary of State.

Jane Appel, who lives in Riverside Road where the majority of the building would be, objected to the original plans.

She said: “It’s inappropriate on a residential street like ours.

“We are not happy, we don’t want a development like that next door to us.”

Residents from ten homes on the street submitted objections to the plan because of noise, an increase in on-street parking and overbearing height.

Mother-of-three Mrs Appel said noise from nearby students was already causing problems on the street.

The developer wants to knock down a garage on the site of 101 Botley Road and build a five-bedroom detached home.

The current building contains provision for seven students after planning was granted in 1998 on the condition the garage was not adapted for living purposes.

A subsequent application to knock the garage down in 2000 for a three-storey block was also turned down.

The most recent plans were snubbed amid fears of extra parking pressures.

Senior transport planner Steve McMillan said: “Riverside Road’s existing parking pressures have led to homes being restricted in allocations of parking permits.

“The plan would increase the pressure on existing on-street parking spaces when additional student visitors seek spaces.”

Oxford Civic Society also objected as the design did not “conform to the largely homogeneous character of Riverside Road”.

Jeff Bethray, of St Aldates Property Ltd, did not respond to a request for comment.