More jobs will be created in Wallingford if plans to extend a nearby environmental and biological research centre come to fruition.

CAB International, formerly the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, wants to extend its offices by the town's southern bypass to accommodate 100 more employees.

Director general Dr Denis Blight told South Oxfordshire District Council that he planned to close CAB International's facilities at Egham and Ascot in Surrey and bring all its operations under one roof on the outskirts of Wallingford.

The organisation already has 250 staff at its 32-acre site near Wallingford, collecting and publishing environmental research from around the world.

The proposal is for biology researchers from the other two centres to join them there to increase efficiency.

Dr Blight said more office space would be needed, along with new greenhouses for research on plants.

He asked that leeway for such an extension be included in the council's Local Plan, which will govern planning developments in the district for the next decade once it has gone out to consultation in June.

Highlighting the importance of CAB International's work, he said: "When mankind discovers a cure for malaria, it will be partly due to the work of CAB - just as we contributed to the discovery of penicillin almost 100 years ago."

Following his presentation to councillors, he made clear any new developments would be in keeping with the surroundings.

He said flood-plain land and playing fields within the existing grounds would be left untouched.

"We are aware this is an area of outstanding natural beauty," he said.

"It is against our ethos to do anything that would harm the environment."