PLANS to rebuild Rose Hill Community Centre at a new location away from The Oval are being explored by city council officers.

A refurbishment of the current building was on the cards, but Oxford City Council is now looking into the financial viability of a complete rebuild.

It would be financed from the £435,000 contributed by Taylor Wimpey and Oxford Community Housing Association (OCHA) as part of the agreement to develop new housing on the estate.

The site suggested for the centre’s relocation is Ashurst Way, with a view to using the site of the current Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre, Scout Hut or the Rose Hill Pavilion.

Community centre secretary Bill Buckingham gave the idea a cautious welcome, but said similar schemes had been put forward many times in the past.

He added: “If they do take a new building I would be very pleased, but I can’t see it in my lifetime, and many of the committee members feel the same.

“We are going to have a meeting with the officers of the city council and that’s due anytime soon.”

He added that if the community centre’s current home in The Oval was vacated he would support using the site to provide more housing.

“People have got to have accommodation,” he said.

“The number of new houses in Rose Hill is quite terrific – it has almost doubled the population.”

The community centre is used by youth organisations, the Silver Threads group, dance classes and faith groups in the community.

Rose Hill city councillor Antonia Bance said that the council would consult the community before taking any decision.

“Officers are looking into the options and no decisions have been taken,” she said.

Ms Bance added that it was right to explore the best way to spend the money.

She said: “It’s a once in a generation opportunity for Rose Hill with all this money coming into the estate.”

Carol Roberts, of Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre, said she would welcome a redevelopment, as long as the advice centre was provided with a temporary base while work was carried out.

She said: “It would be welcome because this is only a temporary building and the Scout Hut is in quite a bit of disrepair. It would make sense to integrate the groups and it would be more secure for everybody.”