THE first detailed plans for a new 'swift tower' to house protected birds at Oxford University Parks have been put forward.

Oxford University wants to site the tower at Picked Mead in the 74-acre park north of the city.

The tower will be a free-standing structure with boxes for swifts to build their nests in.

Last year Jonathan Wheeler from Lower Radley won an RSPB competition to find the winning design for the project.

The university has now submitted a detailed proposal to Oxford City Council for the new tower which can be accessed at the council's planning website.

The tower is just one part of the RSPB's two-year, £83,700 Swift City project, aiming to transform Oxford into a haven for the migratory birds.

Read all about it here