Playzone in Princess Diana Park on track for October completion
25/09/2025
The total cost of the project is £254,000
Construction of the latest Football Foundation PlayZone in Banbury is now underway and on track to be completed in October.
The state-of-the-art facility for grassroots sport is being built on Banbury’s Princess Diana Park.
Fencing and tarmac have already been installed and an all-weather, 3G surface will be laid in the coming days.
The new mini pitch will primarily be used for football, but its versatility means it also has the potential to be used for other sports.
The project is a collaboration between Cherwell District Council, Banbury Town Council and the Football Foundation.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “The PlayZone programme is all about tackling inequality by making it easier for people to access sporting facilities. As a result of engagement with key voices in the community, the Princess Diana PlayZone will have a specific focus on encouraging women and girls to take part in sport.
“Off the back of a summer which saw tremendous success for the Lionesses I am sure lots of women and girls will be inspired to enjoy the Bretch Hill PlayZone when it opens to the public later this autumn.”
As well as being available for general bookings by the public, the PlayZone will host regular, dedicated football activities for women and girls, with details to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Input to the project came from The Hill Community Centre, The Sunshine Centre, Women in Sport, North Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, and local primary schools and football clubs.
Three-quarters of the cost of the £254,000 facility came from a Football Foundation grant with the remainder of the cash provided through by Cherwell from some of the money developers have to pay when building new housing developments.
Banbury Town Council provided the land and will manage and maintain the PlayZone once it is completed.
A similar Playzone area opened at Chandos Sports Ground in Grimsbury earlier this month.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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