Hundreds of jobs are set to be created with the multi-million pound expansion of an Oxfordshire business park.

Outline planning permission has been granted for Howbery Park near Wallingford to develop 140,500sq ft to be used for office accommodation to house a range of businesses that could employ up to 600 more workers.

The move will accelerate development of the existing

business park which has grown rapidly over the last two years, employing about 600 people. It is owned by water engineering specialists HR Wallingford, which had previously used much of the 70-acre site for models and simulations to do with flood defences, but now carries out most of that work on computer.

HR Wallingford director John Ormston said: "We have already constructed two buildings and over the next few years will build several more on what will be a science and technology park.

"We are particularly looking at businesses in the environmental field to occupy premises."

Mr Ormston added that about £10m had already been spent on developing the park and a further £25m would be invested in the new phase.

As well as HR Wallingford, it is home to Wallingford Software, SolarWeb Internet Solutions and Stretch Learning while the Environment Agency's new environmentally friendly building, Red Kite House, was opened there earlier this year.

Agent Strutt and Parker says it has an ideal location with a rural setting combined with easy access to London, Oxford and Reading.

Jeremy Charles, corporate real estate partner at Strutt and Parker, said: "The setting of the park and the fact it is already established are ideal benefits for businesses looking to locate there."

The park further encourages a green working environment with its car-sharing scheme, new traffic free footpath into Wallingford and by providing tenants with a pool of bikes.