A SPORTS club that was forced out of its home after a saga with city planners has been saved by a school.

Cherwell Gymnastics Club has revealed plans to build a new base at The Oxford Academy in Littlemore, 18 months after a council U-turn saw it evicted from a Blackbird Leys warehouse.

Since then the oversubscribed group, which has 600 families on its waiting list – many with multiple children – has been running in limbo between The Cherwell School and Leys Pools and Leisure Centre.

Club chairwoman Hazel Walsh said: "We have been working really hard to look for ways forward, but the market for warehouses in Oxford makes it almost impossible – they just go so quickly.

"There is nothing for sale and almost nothing to let.

"We started looking at what else we could do and the possibility of a semi-permanent building.

"Where we are at the moment is incredibly limited in terms of what we can do, so this would be a stepping stone to a more permanent future that gives us the opportunity to grow."

More than 100 children are currently members, but numbers had to be cut after the club split between two venues.

It has now submitted a planning application to erect a 3,500sq ft prefabricated building on a disused outdoor sports court at the 950-pupil secondary school.

The move could rescue the club's plans to welcome more coaches and members, which had to be put on hold.

Cutteslowe resident Mrs Walsh said the building can be put up in a matter of days so, if planners approve, the club could move in by Easter.

The club would rent the land, which is next to the school's car park, on a long-term lease and the school would get to share use of the building.

Matthew Brandish, director of The Oxford Academy's OX4 sports complex, said: "We are extremely excited to be working with Cherwell Gymnastics club in developing this specialist facility.

"The facilities we already have on site give our students brilliant opportunities to take part in various sports during the school day.

"Adding the fully-equipped gymnasium will not only benefit the teaching and learning within the physical education department, it will give our students the opportunity to work alongside the their coaches to gain valuable work experience and job opportunities."

The gymnastics club used to run solely at The Cherwell School in Summertown but as membership grew, it became unsuitable and a five-year search for a new place ensued.

It was hoped the Blackbird Leys warehouse in Ashville Way would provide a permanent home, allowing space to expand – but the club first had to get permission to use the building for leisure.

An Oxford City Council planning committee granted approval in October 2016, despite opposition from council officers and neighbouring printing firm Mayfield Press, which wanted to expand into the warehouse.

The council’s planning rules protect office and industrial space due to a city-wide shortage, and it was argued that approval resulted in the loss of a key employment site.

However, just weeks after gymnasts moved in and spent £20,000 setting up their new home, the application was called back to committee and permission was quashed, resulting in the club's eviction in July 2017.

Mrs Walsh said the waiting list remains a 'real issue' and said there were no other opportunities for children to practise the popular sport in Oxford city.

She said: "For me, gymnastics really is one of the most important sports.

"It helps with flexibility, balance, courage and determination. It's very bespoke as it's all about setting individual goals – kids who might struggle with team sports can really enjoy gymnastics."

Later this month the club hopes to launch a £100,000 fundraising drive to kit out the basic mobile building, and install floors, toilets and upgraded equipment.