PLANS for 110 student rooms are set to be approved in Jericho despite revelations archaeological remains from the Siege of Oxford more than 350 years ago could lie beneath.

Somerville College's proposals to demolish buildings in Walton Street for a new student accommodation block are likely to go ahead next week but Oxford City Council will order an archaeological investigation to be undertaken first.

Under the plans, the new Walton Street building would provide rooms for 68 undergraduates, with 42 added to the back of 25 to 27 Little Clarendon Street.

Council planning officers have recommended councillors approve the scheme at a meeting tomorrow night but warned the demolition would have to be handled carefully.

In his report Andrew Murdoch said: "Any archaeological impacts could be dealt with by imposing two conditions.

"The first requiring a demolition statement to ensure that the demolition works are undertaken in a way that avoids unnecessary below ground impacts to archaeological remains - and another that secures a written scheme of investigation to be carried out."

During the English Civil War, Parliamentarians besieged the Royalist controlled Oxford and engaged in battle three times over a two year period before winning the war in 1646.

Evidence of an early Saxon settlement nearby was also discovered and extra care would need to be taken during the demolition before the college could create more beds for its students.

Last year the college hit out at estate agents North Oxford Property Services for releasing its housing list 'early' leading to many of its students queuing for more than 24 hours in the rain.

If approved by Oxford City Council, the development would allow the college to accommodate all of its undergraduates on site.

The college's bursar Andrew Parker welcomed the officers recommendation.

He said: "We are very grateful to the planning team for their careful and thoughtful consideration of our scheme and are pleased that they are recommending its approval.

"We look forward to presenting our plans to the Planning Committee tomorrow evening."

The Jericho Community Association backed the scheme after assurances the old Bedford House school building - in which a community garden had been set up - would be preserved and used as a community space.

Historic England's inspector of historic buildings, Richard Peats, said the 'high quality proposals' should have done more to refurb the Shaw Lafevre building in Little Clarendon Street alongside the neighbouring Vaughan Building.

He said: "The opportunity presented to create an interesting contemporary intervention to which responds positively to the Vaughan Building and enriched Oxford's architectural character, has been missed."

Councillors will decide on the plans tomorrow at Town Hall at 6pm.