A BUILDING project which has dominated part of Oxford city centre since 2012 is finally coming to an end.

Luther Court, in Thames Street, is being transformed into 42 affordable homes as well as 82 rooms for foreign students at Bellerby’s College.

Previously it was made up of 56 affordable homes, but these were demolished in March 2014 to make way for the new £7.5m development.

The work was predicted to be finished this month, after Oxford City Council approved the plans in November 2012, but this week builders were still hard at work.

DeveloperA2Dominion said the work would be completed in the autumn, but could not give a specific date.

A2Dominion’s commercial planning manager Jim Smith said: “We are pleased to be nearing the end of this exciting redevelopment project, which will provide 42 one- and two-bedroom homes and an additional 82 rooms for students when it completes this autumn.

“As well as replacing the 30-year old Luther Court scheme with high quality homes, the new development will also improve access and privacy for residents.”

Those living and working near Thames Street said the construction work had not been too much of a nuisance over the past months.

But some had strong opinions about the bright red colour of the building which will house the student accommodation.

Johannes Abeler, 38, who lives in Shirelake Close opposite the new flats, said his family had not been affected by the work at all.

He said: “We have a little three-year-old who loves all the diggers.

“I like the colour of the building too, it makes it more urban.”

Na Cai, 26, who lives at Folly Bridge Court, off Shirelake Close, said she had only been in her house for a couple of weeks.

She said: “It doesn’t seem to affect anything, but then I don’t spend too much time here during the day and that’s when they do most of the work. The ducks here make more noise than the builders!

“The colour is funny but it’s not bad enough for me to actively do anything about it. It would have been nice if they had made more of an effort to try and blend in with the surrounding buildings – it looks a bit out of place.”

Mel Barrett, also of Shirelake Close, added: “It looks like an ugly Lego brick!”

Landlord of The Head of the River at Folly Bridge Jamie Reed said: “I was surprised that the colour, knowing Oxford, was agreed upon in the first place. I don’t mind it though. It looks nice. It will be positive for the area.”

Developer A2Dominion is a not-for-profit organisation and will put any profits back into providing affordable housing.