A COMMUNITY is to get a new convenience shop by the end of the year.

A Sainsbury's Local store will open to the public at Heyford Park, near Bicester, and will sit alongside five further shops available to let.

Located on Camp Road, it will be at the heart of Heyford Park's Village Centre which is set to become a busy hub of social and commercial activity with a pub and hotel planned for 2021.

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It will form part of the new Village Square and adjacent to developers Dorchester Living’s new two and three-bedroom apartments, while also being close to Heyford Park Free School and the Village Green.

Almost 900 homes have been built at the estate, and the development will eventually provide around 3,000 homes and support 2,500 jobs.

Paul Silver, Chief Executive of Dorchester Living, said: “This is another fantastic milestone in the evolution of Heyford Park. Alongside the new homes, we are providing amenities that will help to create a thriving and vibrant place to live, work and socialise.

"As well as our plans for a hotel and pub, we have also provided a heritage centre for residents and visitors.

“With excellent links to nearby Bicester and Oxford, Heyford Park promises to become an excellent place to work and do business, which is why we’re also providing five new high-quality shop spaces, and these will be available for occupation from later this year.”

Heyford Park is a complete redevelopment of the former RAF/USAF Upper Heyford airbase which was granted permission by Cherwell District Council back in 2012.

Because of the site's history, a series of excavations took place to prepare areas for houses to be built and contaminated soil from old RAF fuel storage tanks was found.

The soil was removed for off-site conservation treatment or disposal while some samples were classed as safe and were replaced into the excavation.

The five other shops in Heyford Park's Village Centre are being marketed by Bidwells.

David Williams, partner at Bidwells, added: “With Sainsbury’s opening, and a pub and hotel due next year too, there will be a strong customer base for the shops from residents and visitors.”