Transport Minister Norman Baker says he is ready to look at proposals to move Oxford railway station to Oxpens.

Oxford Civic Society has been campaigning for a new station to be built in Oxpens at the heart of a new city transport hub, an idea previously ruled out due to cost.

But the minister told MPs he believed the proposal merited investigation. The key factors were the strength of local support and finding funding sources, he said.

Asked by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith whether he and officials would look at the proposals, he replied: “We are increasingly devolving responsibility for transport matters down to local council level.”

He said up to £100m of Network Rail funding has been set aside for commercially focused projects at stations.

Oxford City Council is currently negotiating with the rail property quango BRB (Residuary) to release land near the ice rink for up to 500 new homes.

Peter Thompson, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said: “Mr Baker’s comments are very welcome.”