Lancaster University wants to build a new research and development site on the south side of the city, near the A6 and its existing Bailrigg campus.
It has submitted an outline application for new buildings, car parking and main access to Lancaster City Council, described as a knowledge and research innovation campus.
The land is east of the A6 on Sir John Fisher Drive and borders the existing Health Innovation One building.
The university wants up to 25,000 sq metres of new floorspace for research and development, with up to 384 car parking spaces, whilst alandscape buffer area is proposed towards the A6.
Details such as the exact appearance, landscape and layout details will come at a later stage, if the plan progresses.
But illustrations have been included in the application, giving a feel for the type of proposed buildings, spaces and activities.
A planning report to Lancaster City Council's planning committee states: "There is an existing office and research building, with 9,313sq metres of floorspace, built around 2020 for the wider health innovation campus. It sits just beyond the development area of the new application.
"There is a significant private access road, Sir John Fisher Drive, onto the A6, already serving the existing 'phase one' health innovation building, with around 156 existing parking spaces."
But Scotforth Parish Council and Bailrigg Village Residents' Association have raised some objections with concerns including over-development, light pollution and flooding risks.
They have also asked for semi-mature trees and hedges to be planted, enhancements to Bailrigg Lane cycleway junction, maximum heights and scale to be placed on future developments, and green walls or a roof to blend into the rural landscape.
Lancaster Civic Vision has said it welcomes the outline proposal and the employment opportunities it could create.
It believes the draft illustrations 'look acceptable', which will help the local economy, according to the planning report.
The civic group wants see 'state-of-the-art' innovative design and high quality building in such a prominent location, in-keeping with the existing building on-site, the report adds.
Regarding traffic and parking, Lancashire County Council has said the impacts can be managed with developer-funded and supported change.
It wants payments for mitigation works, whilst car parking provision must satisfy demand and be managed at each phase, having regard to the initial phase with over-provision, it said.
Councillors are being recommended by planning officers to approve it, subject to conditions and completion of Section 106 agreement, with a chief officer to finalise a legal agreement.