Winchester College has revealed draft plans for a new three-storey boarding house extending over 700 square metres in St Cross Road.

The school, founded in 1382, wants to demolish Antrim House, a late Victorian building used as the medical centre and build the new block on the site, extending 25 metres into its playing fields in Kingsgate Park.

Around 30 concerned local residents yesterday (Thursday) attended a planning meeting to discuss the controversial proposals.

Headmaster, Dr Nick Tate, told them he wanted to boost pupil numbers from 700 to 765. "The building of a new boarding house is to generate additional income to improve the quality of education we offer."

The proposed house, costing up to £4m, is the first plank in a raft of building work at the £17,000-a-year public school.

Architects said the new block would be "of the highest quality" and contain study bedrooms and dormitories for 65 boys aged 13 to 18.

Based around two courtyards, it will include a dining room and kitchen, a so-called "mugging room" for study, a matron's flat and accommodation for the housemaster and assistant housemaster.

But neighbours expressed their concern about the high level of noise the boarding house may create.

Philip Rousell (69) spoke for the elderly residents of neighbouring Hanover Lodge. "We understand the need for education but that in any new development like this there has got to be consideration for the neighbours.

"There is no doubt there will be concern about this development among residents."

Dr Tate warned that unless a new boarding house was built, the college may be forced to come forward with an alternative application for a new centralised dining hall in the centre of Kingsgate Park. That was something, he said, nobody wanted to see.

Ian Deans, director of architects, architecture plb, said the school wanted the new block in place by the start of the 2004 school year.

He explained that it also wanted to build an extended science school, a new theatre, a new sports centre, an all-weather sports pitch, and redeveloped teaching accommodation over the next ten years.

Councillors discussed the proposed new boarding house and indicated that if the new building was of sufficiently high architectural merit, they might agree to the demolition of Antrim House.

Mr Deans said later: "We have been working very hard to find the best place for the boarding house to go. We believe this is it.

"Everyone who spoke at the meeting made very valid points and we need to take them on board and react to them."