Plans have been unveiled for a new country park in Banbury in the wake of measures to protect the town from floods.

The 27-hectare park – the size of 25 football pitches – would be constructed on farmland next to the Wildmere Industrial Estate to the north of the town.

Cherwell District Council has bought the land on both sides of the M40 near the Oxford Canal.

The project is being spearheaded by the council and the Environment Agency, which is responsible for the flood work.

This has seen a 1.8-mile storage area and embankment constructed north of the M40 to take flood water.

Two concrete structures – which walkers would use to access the park – hold back water flows when needed.

The un-named park would have links to Grimsbury nature reserve and reservoir and Spiceball Park.

A 28-space visitor car park would be provided off the A361 Daventry Road and and the nearest pedestrian access would be about two miles from the town centre.

The country park would include Wildmere Wood and a circular park around a reed bed and wetlands.

Access is already available under the M40 and land north of the motorway would include a “Roman meadow”, an “arboretum field” and semi-mature oak trees.

A planning application states: “It will be seen as a local educational resource for schools and provide a focus for development of community spirit.”

It would be Banbury’s third major park along with Spiceball Park and People’s Park, which opened in 1897.

Banbury Civic Society chairman Rob Kinchin-Smith said: “It will significantly ameliorate many of the impacts necessarily caused during the construction of the Banbury flood alleviation scheme and is sure to provide a welcome haven for local wildlife and walkers.”

Helen Marshall, director of the Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “We think this is a tremendous idea and could really add to the local area.

“Despite being a very rural county, Oxfordshire overall suffers from a lack of accessible green space.”

The council’s planning committee will make a decision on the plan by May.