Two of the main car parks will close at midnight on Sunday, to make way for the construction of a big Sainsbury’s supermarket, shops, cinema, multi-storey car park and bus interchange.

Sainsbury’s Project Manager, Nick Alston, said “Bowmer and Kirkland has been appointed to carry out enabling works at the site, but is not the official contractor for the construction of the new Sainsbury’s store.

“The construction company, a long term partner of Sainsbury’s, is in talks to secure the contract, but so are a number of other firms.

“An appointment and an official statement will be made in due course.”

The redevelopment will transform Bicester and encourage more people to visit the town centre, through the creation of a range of facilities; including a new cinema, Sainsbury’s store, new retail and restaurant units, improved town centre parking and a new bus interchange.

Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted way back in 2009. A new civic building for Bicester could eventually be included in the scheme.