MORE than 30 new ‘affordable’ homes could be built in Iffley.

OX Place, Oxford City Council’s housing company, has submitted a planning application to build 32 new homes on a development that will be 100% affordable.

It intends to build the new homes in a mix of houses and maisonettes on land at Meadow Lane that was earmarked for development in the Local Plan 2036.

The scheme includes 19 council homes let at social rent and 13 homes sold for shared ownership.

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The council also said that Meadow Lane will promote sustainable travel through 83 cycle spaces, an electric car club and EV charging provision in each of its 16 car parking spaces.

If planning permission is granted, OX Place and its development partner Hill aim to begin construction in summer next year.

A spokesperson from the council said: “The revamped scheme now includes smaller building footprints and homes of no more than two storeys. This provides better opportunities for landscaping – including communal gardens – and means no adverse impact on views from existing homes.

“In line with Local Plan requirements Meadow Lane will be highly energy efficient, going beyond current building regulations.

“This will be achieved by enhanced building fabric and air tightness standards and the use of air source heat pumps. The new homes will be electrically heated, meaning that they will become zero carbon when the electricity grid decarbonises.”

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, the council’s cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “People said that the original plans didn’t do enough to help tackle our city’s housing crisis and OX Place has listened. If planning permission is granted, Meadow Lane will now be 100% affordable – providing 19 council homes for social rent and 13 homes for shared ownership.

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“As I’m a cabinet member I can’t be involved in decisions on OX Place planning applications and I hope Meadow Lane will be approved in due course. Oxford needs affordable, low carbon homes and OX Place is best placed to deliver these.”

OX Place managing director, Helen Horne, said: “We’ve acted on feedback from public consultation in October and December and now we’re taking our revised plans from the drawing board and a step closer to reality. While there’s a lot of work still to do, I’m hoping for a green light from planners and am looking forward to starting construction on our latest scheme as soon as possible.”

In Oxford, social rent is typically around 40 per cent of an equivalent private rent.

Shared ownership helps people get onto the property ladder by buying a share in a home they couldn’t afford to buy outright.

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

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