The start of work on a new multi-million pound swimming pool in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, is to be delayed after a group of local residents submitted a Town Green application.

Oxford City Council (OCC) has confirmed that it has earmarked an additional £350,000 in contingency funding for the delay, with work initially due to start in early September. Willmott Dixon has already been selected to build the FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed venue, which will provide Oxford with a eight-lane, 25m swimming pool with floating floor.

OCC board member for leisure services Van Coulter said: "While our legal advice gives us confidence that we will defeat the Town Green application on the grounds that the area is already a park, it will result in a delay to starting the scheme."