SINCE it opened its doors at the start of the year, Rose Hill Community Centre has welcomed a range of groups from across the estate and further afield.

Now the £4.7m building in Carole's Way has been nominated for a top architecture award – earning praise from those who use it.

The community centre has been named as a regional finalist in the 2017 Civic Trust Awards, the longest running independent built environment awards scheme in Europe.

The awards honour projects that significantly benefit the community, consider inclusive and accessible design and that are sustainable.

Rose Hill Runners is one of the many groups that uses the new centre.

Trevor Williams, who founded the group, said the building was worth of its nomination.

The Spencer Crescent resident said: "It is a great building, it is very beautiful.

"It is really useful for us because it is a safe location and it is staffed so we can meet there before our runs.

"At the end of our runs we can use the cafe and have hot drinks and sausage rolls and things like that.

"We also use the showers and changing rooms so people who live further away can come and participate.

"We used to meet at the roundabout in the middle of The Oval which was not so good."

The community centre was nominated for the awards by Clarkson Alliance Project and Cost Managers, based in Summertown, which worked alongside consultants ADP Architects, Quod Consulting, Glanvilles and Beard contractors to build the centre.

It follows the building in Carole's Way being handed the New Building Award by Oxford Preservation Trust on November 1.

Desborough Crescent resident Delphreen Hastings, who uses the centre twice a week for keep fit sessions and the 'silver threads' classes for older people, said she was pleased it had been nominated.

She said: "It is brilliant news.

"The new centre has got something for everybody and it is up to people what they use.

"Part of me would not have been sad if they had decided to redo it, for a lot of people that is the same as they did not want chance but the new building is great."

The building will now be put forward to a panel of judges who will decide if it goes forward to the national and international awards.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, December 15.

Mike Davy of Clarkson Alliance, who was project lead, said: "We were committed from the outset to meet Oxford City Council's objectives of increasing community engagement with the facilities.

"It is excellent to see the community centre be recognised for an award that rates this so highly."