Oxford City Council Approves 15 New Affordable Homes in Northway

Strategic Insights -

Oxford City Council's housing company, OX Place, has been granted approval to build 15 new affordable homes in Northway, a three-storey development in Westlands Drive. The project, which will be partly funded by the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, will include 11 council homes and four shared ownership homes. The development will prioritize sustainability, with a target of zero carbon for regulated energy, and will feature enhanced biodiversity and green spaces.

Key Takeaways:

  • The development will consist of 15 new homes, including 11 council homes and 4 shared ownership homes, with 6 homes let at social rent and 5 homes let at affordable rent.
  • The project will be funded with £5,693,000 from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, a ring-fenced Council account that pays for the management and maintenance of council-owned housing.
  • The development will prioritize sustainability, with a target of zero carbon for regulated energy, and will feature enhanced biodiversity and green spaces, including bird nesting and bat roosting sites, bug hotels, and newly planted trees.
  • The scheme will include a low-car approach, with two wheelchair-accessible parking spaces and three visiting carer spaces, as well as communal storage for 28 bikes.
  • OX Place aims to start work on site in Spring 2026, with the first new residents expected a year later.
  • Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, commented that the decision will "deliver 15 more affordable homes" and each home will make a "life-changing difference."

Statistics:

  • 15 new homes will be built in total.
  • 11 of the new homes will be council homes, with 6 homes let at social rent and 5 homes let at affordable rent.
  • 4 shared ownership homes will be created, allowing people to buy a share of their home while paying rent on the rest.
  • The project will be funded with £5,693,000 from the HRA budget.
  • The development will feature a green space with newly planted trees, a paved seating area with curved benches, and enhanced biodiversity measures.
  • All homes will have their own bike spaces and there will be communal storage for 28 bikes.
  • OX Place aims to start work on site in Spring 2026.

Sources:

  • Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Oxford City Council, quote
  • OX Place press release, reference to £5,693,000 funding from HRA budget
  • OX Place, aims to start work in Spring 2026, reference to OX Place building over 2,000 new homes in Oxford over the next 10 years
  • Oxford City Council, Westlands Drive development details
  • Contify.com, original source of the article