The developer behind the £80 million regeneration plans of the former Cottam Hall Brickworks site is to start work an additional nature reserve in Preston as part of the scheme.

The new nature reserve, which will stretch over eight hectares and will see a neglected area of land turned into a biodiversity site, will start work next year.

Cottam Hall Properties has recently been given planning approval for its 28 acre regeneration scheme of the brickworks site, which already includes a nature reserve, but the developer will be creating the additional site in the Fishwick area of the City.

The planned eight hectare biodiversity site will be created from a derelict sports ground. Flat grass land of limited ecological value will be turned into a nature reserve that will include specially designed habitats including six new ponds.

The sports ground, which hasn't be used for over seven years, has been subject to flooding and on occasion has been blighted by anti-social behaviour.

Ian Rankin, chairman of Cottam Hall Properties said: "In a £100,000 civil engineering and landscaping project, the flat grassland will be transformed into an undulating nature reserve with a rich variety of species and habitats. Its proximity to the River Ribble will permit the creation of marshland, wet woodland and permanent ponds besides the assorted grasses and shrubs supported on the higher land.

"We anticpate getting started on this site in 2012 when all the formalities are completed for the Brickworks site, and weather conditions become favourable."

The site will be available for ecological education and research and to save valuable species.