Oxford City Council agrees 3,000 new homes

Following formal agreement from Oxford City Council, a major development to deliver nearly 3,000 new homes is set to move forward.The development of the site, sitting on an area of land in the south of Oxford, has long been an ambition of the council, which it is hoped will help alleviate some of the need for housing in the city.The housing site falls largely within South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) boundaries and had been incorporated within the SODC Local Plan 2011-2035 adopted in December 2020. Nearly 3,000 new homes are to be delivered, with 2,480 of these expected during the period of this local plan.Under that plan, half of the homes are required to be affordable, with 35% of these at social rent, 40% affordable rent and 25% low cost home ownership (for example, shared ownership).The proposed development – known as South Oxfordshire Science Village (SOSV) – will also feature an extension to the Oxford Science Park, new schools, open spaces, community facilities and shops, as well as improvements to sustainable travel. These could include a new Park and Ride and the reopening of the Cowley branch line at the science park.SODC released the SOSV site from the Green Belt during the adoption of its Local Plan for “exceptional reasons” which include providing for Oxford’s unmet housing need – in particular the need for affordable housing – close to where that need arises. While Oxford’s own Local Plan supports the delivery of nearly 11,000 new homes by 2036, this will involve building up to the city’s boundaries and will still not be enough to meet Oxford’s housing needs.SOSV will also contribute to the regeneration of Blackbird Leys as well as providing better sustainable travel and an extension to the science park.