A £300,000 scheme could see five new 3G football pitches opened to the public by the autumn.

Oxford Brookes University has submitted plans to convert six outdoor tennis courts into five floodlit all-weather pitches, suitable for football and rugby.

The facilities – at Harcourt Hill campus in Botley – are currently used by the public, students and community groups and this will be extended to the proposed pitches.

3G – Third Generation – is a surface created using synthetic fibres and rubbers, made to look like grass.

Last year, the Football Association allowed the use of 3G artificial pitches in every round of the 2014-15 FA Cup if necessary.

The university’s director of sport, Keith Kelly said: “Brookes Sport Botley is committed to providing quality sporting and leisure facilities to Oxford Brookes staff, students and the local community.

“We are currently looking to upgrade our existing external tennis courts to a 3G AstroTurf surface which will improve the student experience and also provide up-to-date facilities which we would encourage the surrounding community to come and use.

Brookes Sport Botley, as its known, currently has a 25-metre swimming pool, steam room and sauna, a gym, two squash courts, a sports hall and a par 3 golf course.

There are seven grass pitches at the site but the new 3G surface will enable football and rugby to be played in all conditions.

The installation of 20 floodlights will mean that the multi-sport facility can be used late into the evening – with 10pm the planned closing time on weekdays.

Mr Kelly said: “The new pitch will be able to accommodate up to five games concurrently and the new artificial turf is suitable for any sport, including football and rugby, and can be used in all weathers.

“The planning application was submitted at the beginning of the month and it is hoped that the new sports pitch will be ready for use in autumn 2015.”

Residents in the OX2 postcode can use the Harcourt Hill facilities at a discounted price.

A monthly membership of £19.75 – or annual membership of £235 – gives residents anytime access to the site, free fitness classes, free swimming and steam room / sauna use.

It also comes with free squash, badminton and table tennis court use if booked a week in advance.

Members are also entitled to a discount on other facilities such as the grass pitches, golf course and from the Autumn the 3G pitches.

The site is also home to 312 students and is used to teach philosophy, religion and communication -based degrees.