Oxford's Barton estate closer to getting a £3m swimming pool development after a campaign by residents.

Outline planning permission for a 25m five-lane pool at Bayswater Middle School has been earmarked for approval by Oxford City Council planners.

The scheme was initially put forward after the Government-funded Single Regeneration Scheme on the estate identified public demand for a swimming pool. It was followed by residents' 'sink or swim' campaign.

The proposals are for tennis courts at Bayswater Middle School be re-developed into a pool, dance studio, and fitness room, which could be used by the school and the community.

The scheme is supported by Sport England and would be partly funded by a sports lottery bid.

In a report to the committee, planning officer Karen Tate said: "The facility is intended to primarily serve the local community - particularly those with a ten-minute travel distance.

"Target groups have been identified who would most benefit from such a facility - such as the over 50s, young people, and disadvantaged groups such as disabled persons, low income groups and minority communities."

It is estimated that 160,000 people will visit the pool and its facilities annually - of which 50 per cent would travel by car. This would mean 25 extra cars a day in the area in peak hours and between five and ten in off-peak periods.

The report adds: "The county highways engineer considers these figures raise no issues in relation to the Green Road roundabout, nor Baywater and Wayneflete Roads.

"The site is well served by buses and easily accessible from adjoining suburbs by bicycle and the adjacent footpath which links Risinghurst and Sandhills to Barton.

"Staff and customers will also be directly encouraged to use sustainable transport measures to access the site."

The outline proposal is recommended to be passed at Wednesday's meeting of the council's planning committee.