Planning permission has been granted for 31 affordable homes at Bertie Place in Oxford, helping more local people access genuinely affordable housing in one of the least affordable cities in the UK.
The full affordable scheme, which was approved by Oxford City Council's Planning Committee, will be delivered by the council's housing company, OX Place, and includes 22 council homes for social rent and nine shared ownership homes.
Alongside the new homes, the development will provide a replacement children's play area, a new multi-use games area (MUGA), public open space, and improved access to nearby green space through a new accessible bridge over Redbridge stream and a nature trail.
The homes will be built on a site that has been allocated for housing development in Oxford's Local Plan since 2013. Following extensive consultation and a detailed assessment of the planning application, officers recommended approval, citing the site's allocation for housing and the significant benefits delivered through the provision of affordable homes.
Over 100 people are expected to have their housing improved through this process, with more than 70 to be accommodated in the new scheme itself, and others from resulting vacancies and relets in existing Council homes as people move within social rented housing.
Sustainable homes for the future
The new homes have been designed to be highly energy efficient, helping residents reduce both their energy bills and carbon emissions. As with all OX Place developments, the scheme takes a 'fabric first' approach, using enhanced insulation and airtightness standards to maximise energy efficiency through the way the buildings are designed.
The homes will be heated using air source heat pumps and will include mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, which capture and reuse heat that would otherwise be lost. Solar panels will generate renewable electricity on site, helping to reduce residents' energy costs, while the car free, well connected nature of the development supports Oxford's ambitions to become a net zero city.
New play facilities and access to nature
As part of the development, a brand new up to date children's play area and multi-use games area (MUGA) will be created, providing modern facilities for local families and young people. 10% of the site will be open public space designed to cater to all age groups.
The scheme will also open up a larger area of green space to the west of the site through the creation of a new fully accessible bridge over Redbridge Stream. New walking routes through the area will create a circular nature trail, giving residents access to green space that is currently difficult to reach and allowing more people to enjoy the site's natural environment.
New planting and biodiversity enhancements including bat boxes will help improve habitats for wildlife while creating an attractive green setting for residents and visitors alike.
Next steps
The scheme is subject to extensive pre-commencement and pre-occupation conditions that respond directly to issues raised during consultation, including ecology, flood risk, tree protection, contamination, construction impacts, noise and potential anti-social behaviour.
These considerations require detailed technical measures and management plans to be agreed with the Council before work begins or homes are occupied. This ensures that concerns around the Redbridge stream corridor, wildlife, residential amenity, safety and disruption are fully addressed through enforceable controls.
OX Place will now move forward with the next stages of the project with further updates to follow over the coming months.
Comment
"Oxford's housing crisis is silently affecting thousands of people across our city. Too many families are living in overcrowded accommodation, struggling with high rents or unable to find a secure home they can afford.
"This scheme represents more than £9 million of investment in the local community and will provide 31 affordable homes for Oxford residents, including 22 vital council homes for social rent. At a time when thousands of households are struggling with the cost of living and nearly 4,000 households are on the council's waiting list, these homes will make a real difference.
“One of the most positive aspects of the final design is that it responds directly to feedback received during the planning process. The new play areas will sit at the heart of the community, where they can benefit from natural surveillance and easy access, while the new bridge and nature trail will open up an area of green space that many residents have never been able to enjoy. The result is a scheme that delivers affordable homes, modern play facilities and improved access to nature in one package.
" Every affordable home we build helps more people stay in the city they love, close to their jobs, schools, families and support networks. Bertie Place will improve housing opportunities for more than 100 people and is another important step towards creating a fairer Oxford."
- Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities
