Shops, a cinema, open space, housing, a hotel and offices are all under consideration for the redevelopment of Witney's prime town centre site, the former town football club at Marriotts Close.

West Oxfordshire District Council planners have drawn up a development brief for the town centre land which will be discussed by members of the cabinet when they meet today (April 7).

There are two areas of land which will be developed. The Marriotts Close site has nearly six acres between the West End link road and the High Street. Another area of two acres of land is the other side of the West End link and used to be a county council's highways depot.

The council's chief executive, Geoff Bonner, said: "The site provides an exciting opportunity for developers. There can be few sites of comparable size for development immediately adjoining a flourishing and historic town centre.

"We are looking for an imaginative, vibrant, yet practical scheme which will not only add to the undoubted visual attraction of Witney but also widen and strengthen the role of the town as the main service centre serving large parts of rural west Oxfordshire."

Preferred uses include shops, cafes and restaurants, public toilets, car parking, an attractive town square or amenity space, houses and flats, with 30 per cent being affordable, offices and a hotel.

Mr Bonner said: "The council considers securing a cinema is a priority."

Public consultation on the scheme will take place in May.