Bretch Hill residents will soon have a new destination for grassroots sport as work on a new Football Foundation PlayZone progresses.
Published: Thursday, 25th September 2025
Banbury’s Princess Diana Park will be home to the state-of-the-art venue, thanks to a collaboration between Cherwell District Council, Banbury Town Council and the Football Foundation.
Fencing and tarmac have already been installed at the park, and the all-weather, 3G surface will be laid in the coming days. The brand-new mini pitch will primarily be used for football, but its versatility means it also has the potential to be used for other sports.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “We’re passionate about investing in our communities so they can enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle, and the fantastic sporting partnerships we have in north Oxfordshire help us attract that funding and put it into action.
“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.
Councillor Shaida Hussain, Chair of Banbury Town Council’s Resources Committee, said: “Following on from our successful launch of the PlayZone at Chandos Recreation Ground, Banbury Town Council is very pleased with the progress the new mini-pitch at Princess Diana Park is making.
“Both on budget and on time, it is sure to prove a very popular addition to the park when it opens to the public this October. We’d like to thank our partners at the Football Foundation and Cherwell District Council for helping us to bring even more outstanding sporting facilities to Banbury.”
To draw up the plans, Cherwell has worked closely with 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 facility is being paid for by a Football Foundation grant of £190,500, and Cherwell is paying the remaining £63,500 using funding secured from new local housing developments.
The town council has provided the land and will manage and maintain the PlayZone once it is completed.
The PlayZone is on track to be completed in the middle of October.