BOSSES at Oxford’s Mini Plant hope a new £5m sports park will bring ‘high-quality’ facilities for the community.

Jeremy Stoyle, chief financial officer for BMW manufacturing, said it was ‘great’ to see work starting on the project.

The Oxford Mail reported yesterday that diggers had moved onto the site near to the Mini plant, off Horspath Road, Cowley,

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.

Mr Stoyle said: “It’s great to see that work is now underway to build new, high-quality sports facilities for the local community.

“We have worked in close partnership with Oxford City Council to help develop this project and look forward to seeing the sports park take shape in the weeks and months ahead.”

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

All staff employed will be paid the Oxford living wage – about £9.26 an hour – which Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said was a ‘requirement’ of the local authority.

BMW struck a deal with the city council in 2015 to demolish the Roman Way facilities and pay £4.9m towards the new development on council-owned land.