Average house prices in Oxfordshire are at over 10 times median earnings and up to 17 times median earnings in the city of Oxford. The Deal helps support Oxfordshire’s ambition to plan and support the delivery of circa 100,000 new homes – including additional affordable housing – across the county between 2011 and 2031 to address the severe housing shortage and expected economic growth. This is the same level of housing growth already planned for in existing and emerging Oxfordshire Local Plans. The Deal also provides Oxfordshire with bespoke arrangements that offer protection against speculative planning applications for the next three years.
Let’s Build Affordable HomesAs part of the £215m Housing and Growth Deal, up to £60m funding is intended to support a bespoke Oxfordshire-wide affordable housing delivery programme. This will support the delivery of at least 1,320 affordable homes to contractually start on site by the end of March 2022. All forms of affordable tenure will be supported in the Housing and Growth Deal, including rent to buy, shared ownership, and homes for affordable and social rent, meeting the needs of residents across the county and supporting the growth of the local economy. While targets remain flexible over tenure split, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership is committed to delivering the homes that meet the needs of local people. As of October 2021, the Growth Deal is more than half-way through its final, fourth year of delivery of the Oxfordshire Affordable Homes Programme. The programme is currently not accepting new applications. For more information on the programme please email megan.mcfarlane@oxfordshire.gov.uk. |
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Further investmentIn addition to the Housing & Growth Deal, a further £300m of investment from the Government’s Housing and Infrastructure Fund (HIF) is awaiting final approval. This will fund transport infrastructure needed to support the delivery of Didcot Garden Town. In total we hope to secure up to £500m of investment for housing infrastructure, which will help unlock planned housing and provide further affordable homes. |
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Innovation in housingThe Future Oxfordshire Partnership is committed to exploring innovation in housing construction, from the application of off-site modular and self-build concepts to the use of low impact, low carbon building methods and materials. This is alongside building on healthy living designs for new developments, such as the Bicester Garden Town, tying in with the aims of Active Oxfordshire and the Environment Agency. |