AN ATHLETICS field in Summertown could be lined up for almost 300 homes.

Oxford City Council has said the site – owned by Summer Fields School – could be developed by 2019.

It neighbours the Diamond Place car parks to the east and has also been suggested for use as a temporary car park when the area is redeveloped.

School operations manager Paul Stanley confirmed discussions on proposals for housing there were taking place.

Mr Stanley said: “There is no agreement yet, but we are very conscious that we have quite a large acreage in the centre of Summertown and there is quite a bit of pressure to find land for housing.

“We would like to continue dialogue with the city council about how our land could be used.

“We are not against housing and are involved in discussions about the city council’s housing plan and the Neighbourhood Plan for Summertown and St Margaret’s.”

He added there was not yet an agreed time for when development could take place.

In a city council land assessment, it was estimated that about 298 homes could be built at the athletics field.

The school said it used the athletics field on a daily basis, but Mr Stanley said there was space on its other fields that could be “reconfigured”.

The site is currently designated as land for open-air sports, but Summer Fields School has said it “could be available” in the next five years.

Summertown city councillor Jean Fooks said the site should be included as part of a blueprint for development at Diamond Place.

The city council is due to produce its final plan for the site’s redevelopment in the coming months. It has proposed that parking spaces be maintained but cafes, shops and new homes be added.

This would likely involve the construction of a multi-storey car park and the demolition of Ewert House, which houses part of Oxford University's department of continuing education and is used for exams.

As reported in the Oxford Mail, the council also wants to expand the Ferry Leisure Centre and make it into a “community hub” featuring hall space and a health centre.

Council leader Bob Price said the plans would depend on agreement with the university and the school.

He said: “To aim for 298 homes [on the athletics field] is a bit ambitious, because for us a key factor is making them sustainable.

“We have identified the site for housing and would like to include it in our plans, but we have to work within the willingness of the landowner."

“We don’t own the land, so as with Ewert House it will depend on the nature of the deal that can be struck.”

In the consultation on plans for Diamond Place, Mr Stanley said the school had also raised concerns about how close buildings would be to lodge accommodation to the north of the site.

He added: “There are boys of ages eight to 13 there, so we would want assurances that is being taken into account.

“That concerns sightlines into dormitories and windows and we have said that in our comments.”