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Council signs multi-million deal for new affordable homes in Barton
Edward Ng - March 16, 2015

The City Council has signed an agreement with Barton Oxford LLP, a joint venture between Oxford City Council and Grosvenor Developments Limited, to fund 354 affordable homes that will be provided in the new planned neighbourhood at Barton.

The development, which is being delivered by Barton Oxford LLP, will provide up to 885 new homes, a food store, primary school and new community facilities, including a new park.

The funding is one of the largest commitments in the country by a local authority for affordable housing. It is part of the City Council’s wider strategy to tackle the local affordable housing pressures in Oxford, which is the least affordable housing location in the country according to the latest Centre for Cities reports.

The new homes are designed to be spacious and energy efficient while also reducing the management, maintenance and refurbishment costs for the City Council.

Construction of the initial infrastructure and the first homes will begin later this year and the first completed affordable housing will start to transfer to the City Council from late 2016. The development will also support local people through jobs and training opportunities.

Councillor Scott Seamons, Board Member for Housing and Estate Regeneration, says:

“Delivering new high quality affordable housing is the top priority for the City Council, with over 950 new council homes alone planned in the next decade.  This agreement is an important step in realising those plans as it moves us closer to getting the flagship Barton development underway.”