People in West Oxford and Oxford City Council have struck a deal that will see the future of Oxpens Meadow secured.

Four years ago St Ebbe’s New Development Residents’ Association (SENDRA) mooted trying to get Town Green status for the central Oxford space to save it from any threat of development.

But now the city council – which is masterminding proposals to redevelop that corner of the city as part of the West End regeneration – has said it will apply for Town Green status instead.

However, its plan involves holding off that application until a shallow grading is cut into the meadow so that it can be used as a flood plain.

That in turn means the West End redevelopment work north of Oxford ice rink, which could see 400+ homes and a new 150-bed hotel, could be approved.

At a meeting last Wednesday, city council executive director for housing and regeneration David Edwards said: “Oxpens Meadow is tied up with the whole regeneration of Oxpens. It will be required on occasions to flood.”

St Ebbe’s resident and Friends of Oxpens Meadow (FOM) member Luke Gander said: “We feel there are a lot of things that need to be done in the west end of the city.

“But the one thing that’s just perfect is the meadow. It’s the only green space in that part of the city by the water and it’s right in the city centre.”

The council initially agreed with the residents’ application, but in March 2010 a report to the City Executive Board advised the meadow was needed as a flood plain to safeguard the surrounding area.

This work would not be allowed if the meadow was a designated Town Green and the report advised deferring a decision until it was done.

The council and the British Rail Residuary Body (BRB) own land on the other side of the ice rink which it is hoped could be developed as housing in the future.

Mr Gander said: “When the report came out, we decided that in this day and age having an acrimonious legal battle with the council would be a waste of money for both parties. So we decided to work with the council to produce an outcome that was acceptable to everyone.”

Two years ago, the city council agreed to apply for the Town Green status itself, once plans were in place with the BRB and work could be carried out on the meadow.

Mr Gander said: “We agreed to this but needed assurance that there would not be any development of the meadow.

“And that is why the City Executive Board passed a resolution to put that in writing.”

The timing of any work is uncertain, but the executive board agreed if the council defaulted on its position, SENDRA and FOM would pursue a Town Green application in their own right.

City council leader Bob Price said: “The land owned by the city council and the BRB is enormous and together, could be developed for more than 400 homes, offices and businesses.

“The ultimate objective for everyone is to ensure that Oxpens Meadow remains as it has done for 80-odd years.

“But obviously we have this potential requirement for it to flood and we can’t designate it until then. We have made a clear promise we won’t do anything to affect its status.”