Oxford could become home to a second multi-million pound pioneering eco-friendly development.

Conceptual drawings for a Zero Emissions Development (Zed) in the city are to go on show next week.

The green block of homes, which will include affordable housing, could be built in Union Street car park behind Tesco.

There is only one other Zed in the country, the Beddington Zero Energy Development, or BedZED, in Wallington, Surrey.

Oxford City Council's east area parliament is spending £10,000 on a feasibility study.

Now councillors want members of the public to get behind the proposed development.

Area councillor Sid Phelps, chairman of the council's environment scrutiny committee, said: "There is a lot of talk nationally about these sort of things, but there are very few at the moment and Oxford would like to be one of the forerunners in this.

"We have got some money to look at the feasibility of such a project so now we want to get people on board with the idea."

The development could include about 20 homes, some of which could be affordable, and could be built on stilts to allow parking underneath.

It would feature wind turbines, solar panels, solar-thermal heating, south-facing windows and a high standard of thermal insulation to minimise heat loss.

Mr Phelps said the Union Street car park was being considered as a possible site as it was owned by the city council - but he insisted the idea was still in theoretical stages, and another site could be chosen if Union Street proved impractical.

"We want people to buy into this vision and see what's possible, and then try to make the vision happen," said Mr Phelps.

"One development won't change the world and won't change our energy consumption, but the principle of having the Zed is quite fundamental for Oxford and it would be very significant to show it can happen.

"To get one designed and built for Oxford would be wonderful."

Mr Phelps said building the Zed would cost millions of pounds and the council would not undertake the project alone.

Instead possible partners, such as housing associations and architects, would be approached.

But he was confident that the Zed could become a reality within two or three years.

He added: "Oxford is an academic centre that is pushing at climate change mitigation and the council has a role to play in that. It would be very significant if we could be the second place in the country to get that."

The drawings will be on show from Monday to Saturday, May 5, at the Town Hall, between 10am and 6pm