WORK on a new £8m sports hall and activities room is expected to be begin before the end of 2015, according to Oxford University’s head of sport.

Jon Roycroft said he was looking forward to building work starting on the first phase of a major redevelopment at Iffley Road sports ground in East Oxford.

The sports centre features the Iffley Road running track, where Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes in 1954.

The proposals have been recommended for approval in principle by city council planning officers and will be considered by councillors at the west area planning committee on Tuesday.

Mr Roycroft said the first phase would feature a second sports hall, and a new activities room.

He added: “I very much hope work will start before the end of the year and there will be a 52-week building programme so it could be finished by autumn 2016.

“This will double the amount of sports hall facilities and we will also provide a dedicated activities room designed for sweaty people.

“The boxing club will train there and there will be other activities classes including dance and keep fit.

“All the new facilities will be available to members of the public as well as students.”

At the moment 3,200 staff and students, and 600 residents use the gym and pool.

The new centre will be named after former British Olympian and Oxford rower Dr Acer Nethercott.

The Beijing Olympics silver medallist and Oxford graduate, who coxed the university to victory in the Boat Race three times, died from a brain tumour in 2012 aged 35. Planning permission for the redevelopment of the entire site was granted three years ago, Mr Roycroft added.

He said the plans were being presented again to councillors as they were now coming forward in two phases. Mr Roycroft said it was not yet known when a second phase of development would begin, to create a sports village, costing an additional £30m.

He said: “We are struggling to accommodate our own students in term time and we need to create bigger and better facilities.

“I am very excited about this – we have waited a long time to get to the stage where we are ready to build new facilities.”

City council officers said they wanted to ensure that the new facilities are available to members of the public.

A report to councillors said: “The original planning permission was granted subject to a legal agreement relating to, among other things, a joint user agreement to provide access to the sporting facilities for the local community.

“The recommendation to approve this fresh application is therefore subject to any necessary change to the legal agreement.”

The west area planning committee takes place in the Old Library at the town hall in St Aldate’s on Tuesday at 6.30pm.