UNIVERSITY staff and students have joined forces to fight plans for a development which they say could destroy the homes of birds and fish.

Campus bosses have submitted planning permission to put a glass roof over the courtyard of the University of Sussex's Chichester 1 building.

The plans would see the removal of the courtyard's pond along with a number of memorial trees and commemorative plaques.

Among them is a plaque to Michael Knapman who was a technician at the university for more than 20 years. He was taken ill one day at work in 1985 and died on the way to hospital.

Also remembered in the courtyard is Ken Pike, the first glassblower at the university who died in 2005, aged 75.

There are also memorials to student Timothy Bartlett who died in 1989 and John Weedon who worked in the molecular sciences department up until his death in 1994.

Chichester 1, a Grade II-listed building, was designed by architect Sir Basil Spence and constructed in the early 1960s.

University bosses want to put a glass roof over the outside courtyard and refurbish it to create an engineering and robotics centre.

However, they do not have the backing of all their staff and students.

Professor Geoff Cloke, head of chemistry, said the space was extremely popular on campus and somewhere you can go to relax in peace and quiet.

He added: ‘‘It would be a great shame to convert it into yet another sea of concrete.’’

A spokeswoman for the university said: "This has been designed for the benefit of staff and students. To comply with the original Spence architecture, the area will have flooring that matches that in the mirrored outside courtyard and which is defined by the custodian of listed buildings, Historic England.’’

When asked what would happen to the wildlife in the courtyard, she said she expected the sparrows and goldfinches to move to trees in the surrounding area. The carp will be transferred to other ponds on the campus. she added.

Families would also be consulted about moving the memorial trees and commemorative plaques.

An online petition has been set up against the plans and has already gained 237 signatures.

A paper petition has also been started by Jenny Prince, an associate for the department of informatics.

She said: ‘‘Chichester 1’s garden is not only one of the most beautiful spots on campus and deserves protection but also the university should recognise its appeal to students.

"They should invest resources to make the garden as truly spectacular as it once was.’’

Councillors are set to decide on the proposal next month.