Revised student accommodation plans for the Cambridge Road estate have been deferred until the new year amid safety fears over a roof terrace and asbestos.

Three hundred student rooms and a basement premise for Europcar are planned for the site of the old office block and former Duke of York pub.

A roof terrace was a major point of contention during the development and control committee meeting, with councillors and residents worried that students would throw parties on top of the seven-storey building. Resident Harry Hall spoke against the application.

He said: “We think it is disgraceful accommodation like this is being forced on the residents. There are about 3,000 people in the area who do not want these plans.

“In a worst case scenario 300 students decide that they want to have a roof party. Security guards would not be able to control that.”

Councillors also wanted to make sure the site was free of asbestos which had been previously found.

Chairman of the committee Councillor Richard Hudson said: “As this is a site for young people I would want this to be thoroughly investigated. I would not be comfortable granting permission until a full site inspection has been done.”

Applicants were irate at the decision after insisting that a site inspection had already been done.

Mohan Kripalani, a representative of the applicant, said: “The site has been thoroughly inspected and deemed completely safe.

“We are also totally flexible on the roof terrace plans. We thought it was a nice way to gain extra space but we don’t want to do anything to annoy the residents of the estate.”

The decision on the plans has been deferred and will be revisited in six weeks’ time at the next development and control committee.