AN NHS trust says it will continue to push for the redevelopment of an Oxford meadow - but not until it hears the outcome of an inquiry into whether the land should be protected.

A costly planning battle looked to be looming over moves to create a student village on the 18-acre Warneford Meadow, near Warneford Hospital, until the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said it would not appeal against city councillors' refusal to approve the scheme.

The trust, which says the proceeds would allow it to improve services for patients, will await the outcome of an inquiry into whether the meadow should be registered as a town green, before deciding its next move.

Trust chief executive Julie Waldron said: "We don't want to progress anything until we know what the outcome of the town green inquiry is. That will take until April."