Plans to extend and refurbish East Oxford's iconic Florey Building have been approved. 

The multi-million pound project to provide 25 extra student rooms and more conference facilities was approved by Oxford City Council earlier this month but then called in over concerns it could damage the building's heritage.

A planning review committee unanimously approved the scheme earlier this evening after discussing issues relating to the architecture, concerns over the planning process and concerns that residents in sheltered housing would be blocked in by a new annexe.

Committee chairman James Fry said: "The reason it was called in was so we could discuss the issues and it was gratifying to see the concerns raised and dealt with by the committee.
"I'm no expert on architecture but the Design Review Panel were very much in favour of the designs."

The Grade II-listed building off St Clement’s, built in 1971, was designed by controversial British architect of the post-war period James Stirling.

It was commissioned by Lord Howard Florey, the Queen’s College Provost and a Nobel Prize winner.

Secretary of the York Place residents association, Dr Peter Collins, said: "I am disappointed that no more than a perfunctory consideration was given to a building with enormous architectural importance.

"It is a modern masterpiece from which many other buildings have followed."