DEVELOPMENT on a long-abandoned cricket pitch could lead to a cash boost in facilities for the sport.

Plans are under way to build 30 homes on the Barton Road cricket ground, once home to Headington United Cricket Club.

The pitch has not been used for 12 years and is currently overgrown, while a fence prevents the public from accessing the land.

Oxford City Council planning officers have written to applicant Thomas Homes saying they will ask for £100,000 to make up for the loss of the sports facility, adding that this may go towards a new cricket-based clubhouse in Margaret Road, Headington.

At the moment the Margaret Road recreation ground is home to three football pitches.

The applicant claims that the cricket ground has been unused for so long that no contribution is needed, but the council disagrees.

Residents have expressed reservations about putting homes on the land, which is about a hectare in size.

Margaret Road resident Tom Peacock said: “The proposed development will create yet more demand for the Headington primary school places at time when there is no capacity left.”

The plans, submitted by Berkshire-based Thomas Homes, are for eight four-bedroom houses, 17 three-bedroom houses and five flats on the plot off London Road.

Half of the houses will be affordable and there are plans for an area of public open space.

Headington United Cricket Club left Barton Road in 1998 because it was too small for them. The team had been there since the 1950s.

It had merged with Cowley St John Cricket Club in 1994 to form Oxford Cricket Club, which now plays at Rover Sports and Social Club.

The cricket ground is still owned by the club, together with the Bradley family, who give their address as being in Worcester.

Richard Summers, a trustee of the cricket club, said: “The club outgrew the ground and it just wasn’t suitable for playing top quality cricket anymore.

“The cricket club will benefit financially, but how it would choose to use the money will be down to the committee.”

In 2003 plans for 40 homes were rejected by Oxford City Council because it had not been shown that there was no demand for a sports field on the site.

Chris Clements, chairman of Oxfordshire Cricket Board, said: “It is always regrettable when sports facilities disappear.

“It would be nice if there were some replacement.”