UP to 4,500 jobs could be created over the next ten to 15 years under a huge scheme to expand one of the country's highest-performing universities.

The £450m project would see York University vastly improve in size and students numbers rise by about 40 per cent.

More courses would be on offer, there would be growth in research activities and more incubator space for start-up companies.

But in keeping with modern, "green" thinking, the whole scheme would be governed by principles of sustainability, with environmentally-friendly buildings, landscapes and even transport.

The outline plans for the phased expansion to the east of the university's existing Heslington campus are being submitted to the local authority today.

Although the university is currently the sixth smallest in Britain, with only 8,500 full-time students, it is consistently ranked in different surveys as one of the best in the country.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor said yesterday: "We must grow in order to sustain this excellence and we have a wonderful opportunity to do so.

"I believe it gives the whole city a focus for optimism in our collective future."

The plan for the site includes a large naturalistic lake and wetlands for wildlife. The lake will form a natural southern boundary.

Together with grassed areas and extensive tree planting, the lake will play a large part in establishing an extensive biodiversity in the area.

Sustainable building materials will be used wherever possible and the university plans to include efficient and modern waste and recycling facilities.

Both the existing campus and its extension at Heslington East will become almost traffic-free, with car parks kept at the periphery of both sites.

Parking on the campus will be available only for visitors, disabled people, and service vehicles. A new transit system will transport staff and students across the extended campus.

The development is likely to create 2,000 university jobs, another 2,500 in related research activity and a considerable number of further jobs in the city.

Public facilities will include extensive sports provision likely to include playing fields, an indoor sports arena and an athletics track. A performing arts centre will complement theatres in the city.

"This will be a campus open to all," said the project's director, Jon Meacock.

"We intend it to be a beautiful place, sensitive to its neighbours and to the landscape. Its open nature and the public facilities should make it a place where every citizen of York can feel that it belongs to them."