OX Place to hold consultation on 31 affordable homes
Oxford City Council’s housing company are inviting views from the community on a plan to build 31 affordable, low-carbon homes.
OX Place hopes to build the dwellings on the Bertie Place recreation ground, a former landfill site earmarked for housing since 2013.
If accepted, the development would consist of 22 council homes, let at social rent, and nine shared ownership properties. The council houses would be a mix of 10 three-bed houses along with 10 one-bed and two, two-bed flats, while the shared ownership homes would all be two-bed houses.
The new development would also feature a new public play area and multi-use games area, a nature trail in nearby Cold Harbour and a bridge linking it to Bertie Place.
All the new homes would be built using OX Place’s ‘fabric first’ approach, which ensures its developments feature enhanced insulation and air tightness standards. They will also go 40 per cent above the carbon reduction targets set out in 2021 building regulations.
By installing electric heating in all homes, once the national grid decarbonises they will all become zero carbon.
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Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “OX Place has been working hard on its plans for Bertie Place following earlier community engagement. As well as now being 100% affordable, the proposed development incorporates a new play area, a MUGA and a new nature trail.
“Oxford desperately needs more affordable homes. A lack of remaining large development sites means we need to deliver these on small pockets of land like Bertie Place. OX Place’s new designs directly address issues raised by local residents and I would urge people to have their say on our housing company’s latest proposals.”
The local community are invited to give their views at a consultation event OX Place are holding on 1 November at South Oxford Community Centre between 15:45 and 20:00. Here, the public can view and respond to the latest designs as well as meeting the development team.
The event materials will also be published online, ensuring anyone unable to attend is still able to see the plans and give feedback. OX Place will then deliver a post-consultation newsletter responding to frequently asked questions.
The company is hoping to submit a planning application, tailored by the feedback, within the next month, with hopes to start developing in late 2023.
Helen Horne, managing director at OX Place, said: "I’m really looking forward to showcasing our latest designs for Bertie Place, hearing what people think and answering their questions, so please join us at South Oxford Community Centre on 1 November.”
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Featured image: iStock
