A NEW artist's impression shows the revised plans for the controversial proposed student housing development at Bucks New University in Hughenden Avenue, High Wycombe.

Residents are still critical of the appearance, however - one saying that it looks worse than "an army barracks".

The computer generated images were transposed onto a view taken from a resident's home.

The revised plan proposes rooms for 672 students; the original proposed 936 en-suite rooms.

The university sent out a letter to residents which said the changed plans were "in response to local concerns".

However, outraged residents are far from satisfied with the alterations. They are strongly opposed to the design of the site and deeply concerned about noisy students making their lives a misery.

Terry Coker, 62, who used to work on the same site for Compair BroomWade, said: "The very high density of students in such a confined space will cause considerable noise nuisance to all the surrounding people.

"They need to look at all the angles and I don't think they have."

Maria McGlinchey, who has collected 120 names so far on a petition, said: "This will look even worse than before. They don't blend in with the landscape and surroundings in the slightest."

There will be 20 tower blocks - designed so that the towers are joined together in sets of four.

Mrs McGlinchey said: "They look worse than barracks. They look like Portakabins stuck up vertically instead of horizontally."

"These are ugly, utilitarian buildings that don't do anything for Wycombe and they should not be among residential homes; with the kind of weather we have, in a couple of years they will look worse in winter."

The new plans propose six-storeyed buildings while the original plans proposed eight. However, with a penthouse level on top for postgraduate accommodation, they will be one storey higher - nine.

Mrs McGlinchey said: "We want lower buildings because it will be claustrophobic and we feel watched.

" We don't want so many people around either. We will not be able to enjoy our homes any more."

Residents have also said that the parking shown will be inadequate.

Martin Briggs, Deputy Chief Executive of Bucks New University, said in a letter to residents: "Students will not be allowed, under the terms of their legally binding tenancies, to own cars. The University, with support of Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council, has a travel plan that is designed to encourage staff and students to use public transport, walk and cycle and minimise single car occupancy journeys."

Mrs McGlinchey said she and her neighbours were unconvinced: "We think that the Bucks New University are insulting not only our taste, but our intelligence. How are they going to enforce it?"

Residents will have a chance to express their views at a community meeting on February 27 at 6pm.