A NEW skatepark could finally be built in Hereford thanks to a major housing developer.

Crest Nicholson Homes has been asked to help pay for the park as part of its planning application to build 300 houses in Holmer. Herefordshire Council, having held discussions with community groups, made a list of gifts' it wants from Crest and the skatepark is one of the priorities.

An astro-turf pitch at Hereford Leisure Centre, public art at Aylestone Park and cycle lanes around the city are among other items on the council's wish list.

Russell Pryce, principal planning officer at Herefordshire Council, said Crest would only donate the money if it received permission to build the houses on land north of Roman Road.

He said many of the benefits the city could gain were yet to be fully finalised, but a skatepark on the former Denco car park off Holmer Road was a "sure bet".

Outline planning permission has been approved for the former Denco site and the Wheeled Sports 4 Hereford group has been searching for funding to pay for it.

Mr Pryce said Crest's donation, which could be as much as £110,000, would go a long way to help fund a future park.

Crest's total payment to Herefordshire Council could rise to as much as £1 million, but Mr Pryce said negotiations to determine the final figure could not be completed before a decision was made on the planning application.

He added that funding had also been earmarked for highway improvements, bus service subsidies and schools near the proposed housing site - but said the money was subject to councillors approving Crest's scheme.