WORK is progressing well on the £1m revamp for Barton Neighbourhood Centre's new health and community hub.

The investment will lead to the GP surgery tripling in size and the sports hall refurbished, among many other upgrades.

The work, which started in March, will see the neighbourhood centre in Underhill Circus transformed to create a new facility for existing residents and those living at the new 885-home Barton Park estate for 3,000 residents.

The first new apartments have now been built and the first residents have moved in.

Barton and Sandhills city councillor Mike Rowley, who is also board member for housing, said: "The work is moving forward well and it looks on schedule to finish in the autumn.

"The new GP surgery is designed to cater for an increase in the number of people living in the area, as more people move into Barton Park.

"This is a great asset for the Barton estate and Barton Park and I am hoping the work will be finished by September."

Barton Neighbourhood Centre, which opened in 1992, currently features a GP surgery, community café, community hall, sports hall, advice centre, police office, youth club and other services.

The £940,000 investment will fund offices used by city council staff being converted into three new GP consulting rooms, two new group and counselling rooms, and a new staffroom and kitchen area.

There will also be a new entrance and foyer area built, with brickwork re-plastered and re-painted, and there will be new windows and new signs.

The sports hall is also being refurbished with new lighting and heating.

The aim of the scheme is to turn Barton Neighbourhood Centre into a health and community hub that hosts a range of support services for the health needs of existing and new Barton residents.

The centre has remained open during most of the revamp to minimise the impact on residents.

City council managers are in talks with Barton Community Association to agree a 25-year lease to manage the new neighbourhood centre.

Sue Holden, secretary of Barton Community Association, said earlier: “The refurbishment taking place at Barton Neighbourhood Centre will clearly illustrate the benefits of joint partnership working between Barton Community Association and Oxford City Council.

“Once completed the centre will benefit the whole community and will be a welcoming and more inviting venue to visit. It will also allow BCA to have a far more visible presence within the community.”

The first residents moved into Barton Park earlier this year.

The new estate is a joint venture between Grosvenor and Oxford City Council. Housebuilder Hill has now completed homes for families to move into as part of the scheme called Mosaics Oxford.

Eleven out of 14 two-bedroom apartments at the Elsfield House block, which cost £415,000 each, are now sold and occupied.