AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL investigation has begun into whether artefacts are buried under the site of the planned Blackbird Leys swimming pool.

Oxford City Council is planning to build a multi-million-pound pool next to Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

The council hopes to start work if a judicial review into a town green application for the land it will be built on is rejected next week.

But before work can start, the council must mitigate the impact of the development by identifying, excavating and recording any archaeological features.

A report into the investigation, drawn up by planning consultants CGMS, said: “For the Roman period, the site lies within an area that forms the focus of a major and significant centre for pottery production that operated between the first and fourth centuries AD.

“Numerous pottery manufacturing or kiln sites are recorded within a 1km (0.6 mile) radius of the site and throughout the Littlemore and Blackbird Leys area.”

Trenches were dug earlier this week to begin investigating the site and a full archaeological excavation will then take place if needed.

Once built, the new pool will have a 25 metre main pool with a moveable floor, a teaching pool, toddler’s splash pool, sauna and soft play area.

It has already been funded, has planning permission and contractor Willmot Dixon has signed a fixed-price contract for the £8.5m work.