Blackbird Leys might not be what most people think of when they ponder Oxford but the estate is, nevertheless, very much part of the fabric of the city.

Until as recently as 50 years ago the site was a sewage works, but then 3,000 homes were built there for workers at the Cowley car plant.

Now the estate — which is Oxford’s largest — is starting to show its age.

Oxford City Council is planning to spend £20m over the next four years to regenerate the area by building homes, redeveloping the shopping precinct, building the city’s major new swimming pool and refurbishing some of its existing housing stock.

The area was known as Blackbird Leys in the 18th century — though was also referred to as Blacford Lays, A sewage farm was on the site which attracted birds, some of which were rare and peculiar to the area, and there were large quantities of wildflowers.

This origin is still reflected in the names of many of the streets in Blackbird Leys such as Kestrel Crescent, Warbler Walk and Juniper Drive.

The clearance of slums at St Ebbes and the growth of Oxford’s car industry in the 1950s meant the site was earmarked for housing.

Oxford City Council’s planning department put forward a scheme which would see 2,800 homes built on the sewage works and nearby Sawpit Farm.

One of the main concerns arose because of the site’s former use as a sewage farm, with concerns that it would be an inadequate place to put houses on health grounds.

To overcome this problem the city council had to remove and replace most of the topsoil to a depth of six feet and some of the foundations for the homes had to be piled.

Planning permission for the scheme was given in 1953 but the city council had to apply to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for an extension of Oxford’s boundaries to include the site.

In 1958, the first residents moved into Sandy Lane and over the next few years the estate expanded.

Blackbird Leys School opened in Wesley Close in 1959 and the Blackbird pub opened in time for Christmas 1962.

Three years later two of the estate’s most prominent landmarks — Evenlode and Windrush Tower — were completed and 50 years later the 15-storey blocks still loom over Blackbird Leys.

Laura Wilson, deputy manager advice worker at the Agnes Smith Advice Centre, based in the shopping centre, said: “Blackbird Leys definitely needs the investment and the flats need to be upgraded. People are proud of Blackbird Leys as it is but if their estate is made a lot more attractive then they are going to have more pride in it.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith agrees, saying that, after half a century, the estate sorely needs an upgrade.

He said: “Blackbird Leys was built 50 years ago now and there is need to update the facilities. The tower blocks certainly need refurbishing and residents have been waiting for this for some time, and the regeneration of the central area and the shops is something which is also needed.”

And Oxford City Council now clearly agrees, as it is planning to spend £20m on the estate over the next four years.

This includes spending £2m on refurbishing Windrush and Evenlode Tower as well as revamping the area’s playgrounds and building more than 100 new homes.

The city council also plans to revamp the estate’s shopping centre but at this stage has no idea how much it will spend on that project but it will reveal more plans in July.

The regeneration project was launched last October with the city council saying only that it was setting aside a “significant” amount of money for the regneration — but this week the authority revealed that the total to be spent was £20m.

Stephen Clarke, head of housing and property at the city council, said: “We have not got an investment like that anywhere in the city.

“At this moment it is the biggest investment. It is virtually all council money.

“It is a massive investment. It is a real win for the area and the community.”

He added: “Our housing is going to relieve overcrowding, there is a desperate need for housing. The tower revamp will improve living conditions. It will be made more energy efficient.”

Included in the £20m is the new multi-million-pound swimming pool — delayed by different legal battles — which is currently being built and is due to open in December next year.

Ian Brooke, head of leisure, parks and communities at the city council, said: “It is great for local residents, but it is a city-wide facility. And people will come to the Leys to use that facility.”

But Labour MP Mr Smith, who himself lives in Blackbird Leys, says it is important to make sure any improvement work on the estate is done in co-operation with the people who live there.

He said: “One thing I would stress is that it is really important that in the design and provision that is made, that there is real consultation with the local community.

“The work needs to be what local people want, not what architects and planners want.”

And the city council has been consulting with the Prince’s Foundation charity, which has been working with the council and local community groups to help produce an informal blueprint for the estate.

Foundation spokesman Constantine Innemee said: “We worked with the council and community over several months running a series of workshops, design sessions and public drop-in events with our team of professional architects, designers and transport specialists.

“Based on extensive input from local residents and stakeholders our report suggested an array of measures, ranging from making better use of available green space to reinforcing connections between Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.”

It is clear that if the city council’s best laid plans go as it hopes, then Blackbird Leys could soon be a substantially different place.