Local residents in Plymouth are being invited to help shape the development of a new countryside park, which will cover a 640-acre (259-hectare) area to the east of the city.

A masterplan for the new Saltram Countryside Park has outlined a number of ideas for the scheme, which was first mooted in 2005 and will form part of the Plymouth Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2010. Among the proposals is the creation of a network of footpaths, brideways and cycle routes; the conservation of natural habitats; and ensuring the park can be easily accessed without the use of a car.

Natural England, the National Trust and Plymouth City Council have worked in partnership on the proposals, along with South Hams District Council, the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust. Ted Fry, the city council's cabinet member for planning, regeneration and economic growth, said: "Establishing new uses for such a large area of countryside on Plymouth's doorstep is not something that happens every day or something that happens overnight, but getting a plan together shows all the organisations involved are very keen to take this idea forward."

A series of consultation events are being planned for the coming six months.