Council submits planning application for Between Towns Road site to deliver new housing

Comprising 35 one and two bed flats and three 3-bed houses, the development will offer 50 per cent of the units for sale on the open market, while the other half will be split between homes for low cost market sales, affordable rent and social rent. 

The development will benefit from funding from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, which will deliver £215m over a five year-period to fund infrastructure and affordable housing across the county. 

The site will be split into three sections:

• block of flats - a curved 4-storey block of flats (top floor set back) following the boundary along Between Towns Road, stepping up to 5-storeys on the western corner opposite Barns Road; 
• row of houses - 3 x 3-storey mews houses with garages at the end of St Omer Road; 
• pedestrian area - the existing public footpath linking St Omer Road to Between Towns Road will be improved and widened. This will be a well-designed public realm, with robust paving, attractive tree planting and a well-lit route.

The Council’s wholly-owned company, Oxford City Housing Limited (OCHL), will provide 530 affordable homes between the current financial year and 2022/23, starting with 211 over the next two years. Current and planned developments include Barton Park, Oxford North, Oxpens, Blackbird Leys, Between Towns Road, Lucy Faithful House site, and Littlemore Park, among others.

Councillor Mike Rowley, Board Member for Housing, said: “I am delighted that we are moving forward with plans to develop this site and deliver much needed housing, including homes for social rent. Over the next two years, the Council plans to deliver over 200 affordable homes, and together with other developers, we are targeting to build a minimum of 2050 affordable homes by 2023. Funding from the Housing and Growth Deal will provide a welcome boost to our affordable housing delivery programme.”