MOVES are being made to find a new home for the Rover Sports and Social Club, based at BMW Oxford, so that the car plant could expand in future.

Oxford City Council could sell or lease unused allotments and agricultural land next to the existing Roman Way club to the car giant.

That would give BMW the option of expanding its production facilities in future by relocating the social club, which also serves as Oxford United’s training ground.

A council report says: “While BMW have no currently approved plans for plant expansion, they are concerned that they have no readily available land.”

Any new social club, on the Green Belt site, would have “new and improved community facilities” that would “improve leisure opportunities for local residents” the report says.

The council said it wanted to “explore opportunities for wider community use” and believes the site is suitable for outdoor sports.

Jim Wardle, secretary of Rover Cowley Bowls Club, which is based at the club, said: “We have no real problem, we were hoping the sooner the better.

“If they would provide us with a better ground I would love it.”

The council’s land would be sold or let to BMW on “commercial terms” and BMW would pay any compensation to the existing agricultural tenant, who pays £1,256 a year.

The allotments have not been used for 11 years and council policy is not to re-open former sites.

Wendy Skinner Smith, of the Oxford & District Federation of Allotment Associations, said there was little demand for the site, adding: “We enjoy comparatively good allotment provision in the city.”

Part of the proposed site was to house a controversial wind turbine, but that idea was rejected in March due to Ministry of Defence concerns it would interfere with its radar.

Horspath Parish Council chairman David Horsley said: “We don’t have a problem with it.”

The proposed move was included as an option in a consultation this summer on where development in the city should take place in the next two decades.

This also said the remainder of the site could be used as a cemetery.

A decision on giving BMW an option to buy the land will be made by the city council’s executive member for finance, Ed Turner, at a meeting on Wednesday.

Any disposal of former allotment land will need Government approval.

BMW spokesman Wayne Morse said the company wanted the option to expand by relocating the club, but stressed there was no plan to do so at this stage.

He added: “We just want that flexibility.”

United club chairman Kelvin Thomas said the club was really happy with its relationship with RSSC and added: “The facility has been excellent so far and we see us using it for quite some time.”

Do you have any memories of the club? Let us know on 01865 425500 or by email to news@oxfordmail.co.uk