Work finally under way to build 190 homes at Wolvercote Paper Mill site

WORK to transform the former Wolvercote Paper Mill into a new 190-home development has begun ahead of an official launch in June.Planning permission was given to CALA Homes to build the homes last September and designers said they are taking inspiration from the history of the paper mill and Wolvercote’s character.The site was used for mills for about four centuries but paper production finished in 1997. The buildings were demolished in 2004.Half of all the homes will be designated as affordable. Of the 190, 74 will be flats and the remaining 116 will be houses.A doctor’s surgery and a new community centre will also be built as part of the development.An official launch for the development will take place on June 15 at the site.After CALA Homes had applied for planning permission last year, Thames Valley Police officers said they worried some of the properties could have been targeted by burglars.But it seems the housebuilder did enough work to allay those fears.CALA Homes said it will spend about £2m boosting the infrastructure around the site.The company said the homes will consist of a mix of traditional two storey and ‘large villa-style homes’.Mill Square, a community hub, will feature light industrial units and a bus stop linking new routes, it said.The new Oxford North development, also in North Oxford, is expected to be passed sometime later this year.