A MULTI-million-pound project to transform a Northway community hub has begun.

Youngsters from New Marston Primary School united with city councillors on Wednesday to mark the start of construction at the Dora Carr Close site.

It comes after housing association GreenSquare was given planning permission to build 47 new homes as well as the three-storey community centre.

GreenSquare chief executive Howard Toplis said: “We have been working closely with our partners at Oxford City Council and the Northway Community Association to reach this important milestone and we are delighted that work is now under way.”

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The £5.4m first phase of construction is due to end in December.

Planned for the site are 15 three-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses and 28 one- and two-bedroom flats. Construction company Stepnell Limited has started to build flats designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

Work has also started on the new community centre, which will include a multi-use hall with sports changing rooms, social club, business units and community, education and learning space.

Mr Toplis said: “This project will not only provide much-needed new homes to address the housing need in Oxford, but will also help to revitalise the area with new community facilities.”

School pupils were invited to the site after they launched a project to protect newts living near the development at Peasemoor Piece.

Year Three teacher Helen Pearson said children became concerned about the safety of the newts after GreenSquare discovered them on the Northway site.

On Wednesday youngsters displayed their newt-themed artwork, which will now cover the hoarding around the building site.

Miss Pearson added: “They are all keen to look after things around them and protect things.”

The pupils also enjoyed games run by the city council’s sports development team to mark the opening of a multi-use games area.

Mark Lygo, board member for sports, parks and leisure, said: “I am delighted by the replacement multi-use games area, which looks excellent and will ensure that local residents continue to enjoy fun recreational activities such as football, basketball and hockey.”

City councillors answered residents’ questions about the development, along with first-year Oxford Brookes architecture students.

The new venue will be run by Northway Community Association but it will have to pay £12,000- a-year in maintenance fees once the new centre is built.

The development was a joint venture between GreenSquare and Grand Designs TV presenter Kevin McCloud’s company Hab Housing, but Hab Housing’s involvement ended when construction began.

They also worked on transforming the former Cowley Community Centre, in Barns Road.

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