University of Oxford has unveiled plans to build a £19m sports centre at the historic site where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile.

The new facilities, to be developed at the existing Iffley Road Sports Centre, will cater for 80 sports, and include a three-court national competition standard tennis centre.

The existing cricket school will also be expanded, as will the health and fitness facilities and spectator areas.

There are also plans for a two-tier indoor sports hall with club facilities, a fencing sale, new basketball courts, a martial arts dojo, a climbing wall and sports studios.

Existing facilities at the sports complex already comprise a 440yd running track, an Olympic-standard artificial hockey pitch, a rugby stadium, an 8-lane, 25m swimming pool and a rowing tank.

According to a spokesperson, the improvements to the complex are due to an increase in students’ interest in sport. It is estimated that around 75 per cent of Oxford students now participate in organised sports.

The centre’s running track was recently resurfaced and renamed Sir Roger Bannister Running Track to commemorate the runner’s record-breaking feat in 1954.