DIGGERS are clearing the way for work to start on a major new sports park and training ground for Oxford United’s academy.

Work is planned to start within weeks on a £4.9m sports complex aimed to get more people active across the city.

Plans for the scheme were passed earlier this year after a deal was struck between BMW and Oxford City Council to transform a site near to the Mini plant, off Horspath Road, Cowley, into a leisure facility.

Bulldozers have been spotted on the land and the Oxford Mail understands ground works are currently being carried out before foundations can be built in the coming weeks.

The sports park will include three full-size grass football pitches, three mini football pitches, six small-sided and lit 3G football pitches.

There will also be two grass cricket pitches and four softball diamonds for summer months.

Bob Price, city council leader, told the Mail he was ‘excited’ that earthworks had begun on the site, which is expected to be completed by early 2018.

He added: “It’s a great tribute to BMW who actually funded the scheme.

“The majority of facilities will be open by the start of 2018.”

Mr Price said the aim was to try to get ‘as many people active as possible’.

Run my Fusion lifestyle, the facility will have a pavilion with changing facilities, 150 car parking spaces and operate at affordable costs to boost physical activity among both adults and children.

Recent hospital mortality figures laid bare the health inequalities faced by thousands of families in the city. The NHS Digital figures revealed 3,234 people die under the care of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 1,317 - or 40 per cent - were from the poorest wards.

Obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues and mental health problems all rise exponentially in poorer parts of the city.

A man living in areas such as Barton and Blackbird Leys has a life expectancy of 75 years 10 years younger compared to men in North Oxford.

All staff employed will be paid the Oxford living wage - about £9.26 an hour - which Mr Price said was a ‘requirement’ of the council.

With Oxford United’s academy benefitting from a new training ground and classrooms, plans for where Pep Clotet will run his first team sessions are yet to be finalised.

The club were unable to comment on the start of the work last night, but United’s board is continuing to explore options to train at Oxford Brookes University’s Harcourt Hill campus.

Club chairman Darryl Eales previously told the Mail the academy training at the council-owned sports park and first team at Oxford Brookes would be ‘a great long-term solution’.

Sports director at Oxford Brookes Keith Kelly previously said conversations had been had between United and the university about striking a deal in the future.

Another long term training ground option which has been suggested is developing the city council-owned land at the back of Court Place Farm, where Oxford City play and train.

Earlier this year, the club said it was against moving its first team operations to the new Horspath Sports Park, after the council rejected its bid to run the facility.

The German car manufacturers struck a deal in 2015 to fund the new facilities, after plant bosses wanted to demolish the old sports ground, which used to be run by the Rover Sports and Social Club.

Mr Price said the council was ‘very keen’ to get the project completed as ‘quickly as possible’ and said many of the grass pitches would be available for use for sports teams by May.