Two of Oxford’s oldest colleges, Exeter and Hertford, have unveiled striking new images of their joint proposal to transform their sports grounds at Edgeway Road, Marston into a modern, community-focused sports and wellbeing hub.
The redevelopment aims to revitalise a site that has suffered from vandalism and antisocial behaviour in recent years, turning it into a year-round destination for sport, social activity and nature.
A New Sports and Community Hub for Marston
At the heart of the project is a new community café and flexible rooms for clubs, families, and local groups, providing much-needed social and meeting space for residents. The plans also include padel tennis courts, cricket nets, basketball and netball courts, football and cricket pitches, and a golf simulator housed in a repurposed building.
Historic pavilions will be restored, and new walking and running paths will make the green space easier and safer to reach.
“These new illustrations bring to life our plans for a shared sports hub that benefits our students and the wider community equally,” said Nick Badman, Bursar of Exeter College, “They show how we can modernise historic grounds, revive ageing buildings and open up access for everyone.”
Designed for People, Wildlife and the Future
The colleges have worked with specialists in ecology, flood resilience, lighting and access to ensure the scheme is sensitive to its Green Belt setting and proximity to the New Marston Meadows SSSI.
The design aims to achieve a 20% biodiversity net gain, planting new trees and wildflower meadows and introducing sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risk.
“We want to protect this important green space by planting more trees and wildflower meadows while promoting health and wellbeing,” said Jamie Clark, Bursar of Hertford College.
“By creating a popular community facility, we hope to ensure the site remains vibrant and well used all year round.”
Sport for All
The colleges are partnering with Oxfordshire-based sports operator Padel People, co-founded by James Rock and George Sandbach, to deliver high-quality yet affordable facilities for all ages and abilities.
The café will serve locally sourced food and drink, including fresh coffee, pastries and sandwiches, while new sports infrastructure will open up access for schools, clubs, and families.
“Our aim is to make the facility affordable, accessible and welcoming — a place for everyone,” said George Sandbach of Padel People. “By prioritising affordability and a community-first ethos, we want to strengthen Oxford’s sporting culture and support local small businesses.”
Key Features of the Exeter & Hertford Sports Hub
- Four covered and three outdoor padel tennis courts
- Basketball, netball and five-a-side hardcourts
- Football, rugby and cricket pitches reorganised and enhanced
- Outdoor cricket nets and refurbished pavilions
- A community café with indoor/outdoor seating
- Flexible community rooms for yoga, baby groups, repair cafés and more
- Golf simulator in the former Exeter squash building
- New footpaths, running routes and wheelchair-accessible facilities
- 40 cycle spaces, e-scooter provision and improved parking
- Sustainable design with permeable surfaces, drainage upgrades and habitat creation
A Shared Vision
The project is part of the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership’s wider effort to improve health and connectivity across the county, ensuring college assets serve the city and its communities alike.
When complete, the redeveloped Marston site will offer not only state-of-the-art sporting facilities but also a new social hub for residents and students to meet, play and unwind.
Location
Edgeway Road, Marston, Oxford
