PLANS for a community centre which will be the "heart" of the Kingsmere community have been passed by councillors.

Developers Countryside Properties said they were "delighted" to have secured planning permission for the community centre on the site in Bicester.

Located adjacent to the new primary school the new community centre will serve the growing number of residents moving to the area.

It provide a space for community groups, of all ages and hold private functions with a ground floor café, multi-purpose hall and a dedicated youth facility in an adjacent building. 

Andrew Carrington, director of Countryside Properties  Ltd said: "We’re delighted that the planning application for the new community centre at Kingsmere has been approved, and what will serve as the heart of Kingsmere can now be delivered.

"The centre will become a valuable asset for the new community, which is now flourishing.

"We hope that the community centre will become a place where people can meet and spend time socialising and relaxing, and ultimately form the foundations of a thriving new community."

The community centre comes after many years of building on the site south west of Bicester.

A hotel, restaurant and about 600 homes have been built so far along with two new primary schools and a secondary school.