FURIOUS residents are launching a campaign tonight against two 16- storey tower blocks planned for the heart of the city.

They are angry that two high-rise tower blocks housing 1,500 students could be built in their community.

Now the Charlotte Place Campaign Group hopes councillors will support them and block the development.

Community leaders, who are concerned about students and their partying on their doorstep, are holding a public meeting at the Newtown Youth Centre at 7pm.

Nazrul Chaudhery, chairman of the campaign group, said: “The level of consultation has been really poor and this is something the council have not thought through, as a community we are opposed to plans as they stand.

“If the developers and council do not listen to our views then these two developments will cause real community tension.”

Mohammed Khan, of the Muslim Council of Southampton , added: “Can you imagine another 1,500 students? Where are you going to put them?

“From my point of view, it’s going to be a nightmare.”

Judge Khurshid Drabu, chairman of the board of the Medina Mosque in St Mary’s Road, said: “The impact that these developments are going to have in the community has not been taken into account.”

Liberty Living has submitted plans to Southampton City Council to double the number of student flats available to Orion’s Point to 854 rooms.

It wants to turn the convert the high-rise offices into a complete tower block for students 16 storeys high.

It is not yet known when councillors will have a chance to vote on the proposals.

Bouygues UK has expressed an interest to develop Charlotte Place, 60 to 64 St Mary’s Road with the remainder of the rooms. It has not submitted a planning application yet.

A representative from Liberty Living and Bevois ward councillor Stephen Barnes- Andrews are both expected to be at the meeting in Graham Road.

The Charlotte Place site was previously earmarked for an ice rink by a local developer, Colin Warburg, but he was out-bid by another developer.