With the country gearing up for the 2012 London Olympics, Cherwell District Council's Executive gave the go ahead for a new outdoor sports complex in Bicester.

The council will now continue to work with Bicester Town Council, Oxfordshire County Council and local sports clubs to develop the Bicester Sports Village.

The project will see over 17 hectares of land turned over to outdoor sports provision. The council will acquire the land as part of an agreement for a new housing development in south west Bicester. Cherwell will seek additional funding for the project from Sport England and the Football Foundation.

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The Sports Village will comprise state of the art facilities, including the latest high quality, synthetic floodlit football pitch (known as 3G), a floodlit six lane athletics track, tennis courts, a hard play area, a cricket pitch, three rugby pitches, three junior football pitches, a pavilion with changing rooms, conference, catering and meeting facilities, and fitness and treatment rooms.

Cherwell District Council Portfolio Holder for Community, Health and Environment, Councillor George Reynolds, said: "There's going to be a growth in sports participation, not only in the run up to the London Olympics but also when the Games are over. Coupled with a growing population, we want to be sure that Bicester has first rate facilities that meet the demand. Bicester sports village really will be a place where excellence is achieved through participation."

The completion date for the Bicester Sports Village is planned to be 2012, but this will be dependent on the developers' start date for the south west Bicester housing development.

(CD)