A health trust is ready to submit five separate planning applications to develop land at Warneford Meadow and Park Hospital in Headington.

Oxfordshire Mental Health Trust says the development of two sensitive sites will raise funds towards improving patient facilities.

The trust wants to build homes for hundreds of key workers and students along with substantial new research and academic buildings.

Planning applications will be submitted in July, with a number of options put forwards.

There are two applications each for the Warneford Meadow and Park sites, one for residential use and one for research purposes. There is a further application to build social housing on a football pitch.

A trust spokesman said: "The land adjoining the hospitals is surplus to our requirements as an NHS trust. We also have to pay a capital charge because we own the land, which is an additional cost to us. We would rather spend the money on patient care.

"With the money that a sale of this land would raise, we could refurbish wards and bring the environment for treating patients up to date.

"Basic change such as ensuite bathrooms and single bedrooms are very important, yet not all of our wards currently have them. Modern, light and bright surroundings are everyone's right but make a world of difference for patients with mental health problems."

The spokesman said: "The decision on the use of the land is up to the council, not the local NHS. Our preferred option is key worker housing, because good health care isn't just about the right setting for treatment. It relies on being able to recruit and keep good staff."

The proposed use for the sports pitch is not in the Local Area Plan. But the trust says local groups had called for "socially responsible" use of the land.

A master plan unveiled at a one day public exhibition, gave an indication of the likely scale of the scheme which could see 460 new homes, retirement homes and accommodation for 3,400 students on the two sites.

The Lib Dem city councillor for Headington, Stephen Tall, said: "It's a huge application that is going to have a major impact on the Headington area.

"It is vital that the trust actively engages with residents to make sure local concerns are addressed."

Auriol Hamer, of Old Road, Headington, said: "This is one of the last open green spaces in Headington.

"Its loss would be devastating.

"Student accommodation is the last thing residents want there."