PLANS have finally been submitted for a new £2.4m recycling site at an Oxford Park and Ride 18 months after it was agreed in principle.

The recycling transfer station would be built at Redbridge Park and Ride off Abingdon Road.

It is expected to save Oxford City Council £320,000 a year as it will enable material to be stored on site before being sent off in bulk for recycling.

Currently the closest transfer station is in Culham - a 20-mile round trip for council workers to go with residents’ recycling.

The station would take up 270 spaces at Redbridge but none will be lost due to a ‘reconfiguration’ – a repainting operation to fit more spaces into the current area.

In fact, a further 84 spaces would be added taking the total to 1,200.

It will also create 14 coach parking spaces and new access road off Old Abingdon Road.

The council's executive board agreed to fund the project in December 2016 and plans have now been submitted to the council's planning division.

A consultation has now been launched and comments will be accepted until July 26 - with a decision expected to be made in September.

To comment go to oxford.gov.uk and search the planning reference 18/01590/CT3