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Housing Minister Visits Oxford

Released on 31 Jul 2008

Caroline Flint MP, Government Minister for Housing, visited Oxford on Thursday 31 July to discuss the housing problems facing the city, and the solutions to tackle these problems.

The Minister met with leader of the Council, Councillor Bob Price, about future housing plans for the city and surrounding area.

She also visited the new Rose Hill Social Housing development to meet local residents Mr and Mrs Jackson who have benefited from the scheme.

When complete, the Rose Hill redevelopment will replace 97 council system built properties and two sheltered housing blocks that were all in poor condition and under utilised, with 254 new residential units - 113 private, 141 affordable (56%), with 72% for rent, mainly 3 bed or larger.

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council says: "Oxford is facing a housing crisis, with many people unable to afford to live in our city. Average house prices have more than tripled over the last 10 years and Oxford is the third least affordable area in the South East.

"Our city also has one of the highest levels of homelessness in Britain. There are over 4,500 people on the Council's housing waiting list and 450 households living in temporary accommodation.

"This was a great opportunity for us to tell the government the problems we face with a shortage of affordable housing in Oxford and to show them what we want to do to tackle these problems.

"We want to deliver more housing to ease the affordability problem, support the further development of our economy, and help to tackle inequality.

"The tight land supply in Oxford, combined with the need to preserve the City's historic character presents a challenging development environment. This doesn't mean, however, that we should shirk our responsibility to tackle the housing problem.