Creating a vibrant social and sporting hub

Our aim is to make the Exeter and Hertford sports grounds better for everyone: protecting green space, encouraging wildlife, delivering a much-needed sports and social hub open to all.

“Excellent idea that will rejuvenate this part of Oxford and be a community-focused and healthy activity centre. An excellent regeneration scheme.”

Protecting an important setting

The grounds sit in a very special part of Oxford: Green Belt, flood plain, next to the New Marston Meadows SSSI and within the Oxford View Cone. Today they are under-used and too often blighted by vandalism. Our vision is to bring them back into active use – restoring historic pavilions, creating a café and flexible community rooms, and providing modern sports facilities, all designed with expert input in ecology, landscape, lighting, flood resilience and access.

Adapting existing buildings

We will restore and repurpose the existing buildings to provide excellent, affordable facilities that the whole community enjoys all year round, creating a valued, vibrant hub.

“Delighted to see plans to make use of the facilities as they have fallen into disrepair. Confident that there will be strong interest from residents to rent out the facilities, make use of paths and visit the café as Marston is currently poorly served.” 

Listening to feedback 

The success of the Sports Hub hinges on students, residents, sports clubs and community groups making good use of it – that’s essential to keep the site vibrant, safe and sustainable. The facilities have therefore been designed to meet demand:

• high-quality
• popular
• affordable
• and inclusive

We have worked with residents, sports clubs, local council representatives, businesses, and national and regional sports bodies to design a facility that meets users’ needs.

The Hub goes beyond sport to provide a much-needed café for Marston, open to everyone year-round, from people using the sports facilities to early-morning dog walkers.

The Hub will also provide flexible community rooms that could host anything from baby groups to yoga, repair cafés, art classes, book clubs and more – adapting to local need.

Carefully considering the character and restrictions of the setting and in response to local demand, the Sports Hub will deliver:

• Sport for all – padel, cricket, football, basketball and more
• Social space – a new café and flexible community rooms
• Improved access – new paths, bicycle and e-scooter parking
• Environment – more trees and wildflowers, drainage improvements, and sensitive lighting

“Fully support the proposal. There are a lack of sports facilities available in Marston which are open to local residents and the addition of these facilities would promote healthy lifestyles in the community, and benefit the environment as people would no longer need to drive to leisure facilities.”

We’re still listening! Further feedback can be shared via this form.

Local partners

We’re partnering with Padel People, an experienced Oxfordshire-based leisure group with a community-first ethos. Co-founders George Sandbach and James Rock – both from Oxfordshire – have an impressive track record of operating accessible and welcoming sport and hospitality venues.

George explains their approach:

“Our aim is to make sure the facility is affordable, accessible, and welcoming – a place for everyone, regardless of background or sporting ability. By prioritising affordability, accessibility and a community-first ethos, Padel People hopes to bring a lasting benefit to Oxford while strengthening the city’s sporting culture. The café will serve fresh coffees, teas, pastries and sandwiches throughout the day. It will be a community hub with local products, emphasising our desire to support local small businesses.”

“We have lived in Edgeway Road since 1975. This is such wonderful and exciting news.”

Find out more:

Frequently Asked Questions

Our vision