Appeal after Bodleian bid fails

Critics claimed the new library would ruin the view of Oxford

The University of Oxford is to appeal against Oxford City Council's refusal to allow it to build a £29m book depository for its Bodleian Library.

The proposal for the Osney Mead area, which would house eight million books, was agreed by the city council's planners in a narrow vote in September.

The plan was put on hold after critics said it would ruin the Oxford skyline and councillors voted against the bid.

"We feel we have a very good case on planning grounds," the university said.

The library, which has a copy of almost every book printed, is full and the university has said it needs space to expand.

An extra 5,000 books are added to its catalogue each week.

The Bodleian is the main research library for the University of Oxford and occupies several sites around the city.

Its treasures include 10,000 medieval manuscripts, the papers of six prime ministers and the manuscripts of literary classics such as The Wind in the Willows.

Critics of the new building have said the "sensitive location" on a flood plain in the green belt area around Oxford would suffer and that views of the city would be affected.