AN INDUSTRIAL unit in an Oxfordshire town could be transformed into a massive indoor sports centre offering an array of 'world class' facilities.

Applicant 5CORE Ltd, based in Banbury, want to convert the unit in Telford Road, Bicester, into a recreational and sports facility that can be used for netball, football, martial arts, tennis and gymnastics.

The 2.42-acre site would feature a ‘street pitch’, two mixed-use sports pitches, one medium mixed-use sports pitch, changing and shower rooms, a locker room, a viewing deck and store room.

It would also have a reception, office and first aid room.

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The property has been used as a light industrial and storage unit for Huber and Suhner UK Limited and the applicant wants to use the space to encourage activity, health and wellbeing.

5CORE Ltd said: “The vision of 5CORE is simple, to take an industrial space which we can turn into a leisure (dry) facility that would be used for a variety of sports.

“We want to take a space in a diminishing industrial environment and re-use this area for all-year-round usage by a variety of groups.

“This would range from young to old casual play, professional training and competition all with a community centre value and feeling that has world class facilities.

“We want this to become a go-to centre to play sports, get fit and meet like-minded active participants.”

5CORE Ltd has focused on making sure 'user experience' and 'space utilisation' are important parts of its design approach.

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It wants to ensure visitors enjoy their time at the centre regardless of which sport they play and which level they are playing at, and it wants to use the existing space in the building in an 'effective and efficient' manner with ‘minimal disruption’ to the building.

The applicant plans to make ‘minor improvements’ to the surrounding area such as adding bike parking spaces, grassed areas, a marked footpath and a ‘safeguarding’ pedestrian route directing visitors to the shared car park.

The site has a 'circulation route' around the pitches to give access to all activity areas and facilities inside.

5CORE Ltd state in its application: "As the main space is all on one floor and the unit is one large open space with ramp access, it already lends itself to being accessible by all.”

The external alterations to the appearance of the building would only include removing the existing signage and replacing with 5CORE's logo and branding.

Its opening times currently proposed by the applicant are 10am to 10pm, with peak times anticipated to be between 6pm and 9pm.

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Visitors who drive to the indoor sports centre would be able to park in the existing site’s shared car park which has around 70 spaces.

Cherwell District Council's recreation and leisure team support the application.

It said: "We would support the planning application for the change of usage from business to assembly and leisure, which will provide additional accessible facilities for physical activity in the district."

Bicester is home to a number of leisure and recreational facilities that are housed in converted industrial units.

Climbing wall centre, Clip n’ Climb opened last October in Bessemer Close, trampoline park Rebound Revolution opened in 2017 off London Road and a new Teamsport go-karting track is set to open this Spring in Murdock Road.