Work is set to start on Bicester’s £5million community centre before the end of November, it has been revealed.
Plans to award a contract to build the new community centre, which will be one of the main elements of Bicester’s town centre redevelopment, have been recommended for approval by members of Cherwell District Council’s (CDC) executive at a meeting on Monday night.
Officers say it is crucial for workers to get on site by November and hope to be in a position to award a contract by the end of August.
The building on the Franklins Yard car park site will contain Bicester’s new library and district council offices.
CDC has also been in talks with Bicester Town Council and Bicester Local History Society over designs for the new community centre. Funds for the building were set aside in 2011.
Councillor Norman Bolster, CDC’s lead member for estates, said: “The community building will complete the redevelopment of Bicester town centre and will include more great facilities including a new central library.
“It will also provide offices for CDC in town, which will relocate from Market Square.”
Plans are in place to save money by linking the building of the new community centre with the construction of a pavilion and car park in Bicester’s South West Sports Village development.
Local apprentices and small businesses can get involved in the project under terms to be agreed with the successful bidder.
The community centre will be the final part of plans to regenerate the area around Bicester’s new Sainsbury’s store.