Residents move into social housing development

The first people have moved into a newly developed tower block that provides social housing for 61 households.

Construction began on Chestnut Tower in Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate in March 2024 as part of wider plans to redevelop the neighbourhood, with an estimated cost of £100m.

A community centre, public square, local shops and 135 more affordable homes are also being built, with a second tower block due to open next year.

Linda Smith, the lead member for Housing at Oxford City Council said "a small rise in the budget" will be needed to complete the project.

The masterplan for the neighbourhood development is split in two main areas, with Chestnut Tower forming part of the district centre.

Built in partnership between Oxford City Council and Peabody - a not-for-profit housing association - the block is entirely for social rent, with the council charging on average £144 per week.

Wheelchair-accessible homes are also provided and all the apartments come with either a balcony or a garden.

The 61 flats are spread over nine floors, with views over the city and countryside to the south, providing homes for some of the 3,500 people currently on Oxford's housing register.

Smith described the opportunity as "life changing".

She said: "I've been dealing with people that have either been in really over crowded homes, living with their children and with their mum and dad, waiting for a new council home for a long time, or have been in very poor and expensive private rented sector accommodation and again, waiting for a council home for a long time.

"And there's too many people in that situation. So that's why we're building new council homes across the city."

Further down the road, Cherry Tree Tower is still being built and will bring a further 51 flats for social rent by April 2028.

Nearby, Knights Road will provide 84 shared ownership homes, helping people to get on the housing ladder in one of the most expensive cities in the south east.

"You can come in at quite a low level - you might own perhaps 5% of the house, but then you can staircase up, so that eventually you can own more of it, perhaps even own it outright," Smith said.

Smith admits the rising costs of the development, including higher interest rates and construction costs, means they "will be asking for a top-up at the next city council budget."

But she insists the scheme is still "on track".

"We're determined to finish the project and deliver the homes and the shops and the new community centre that everyone's been waiting for," she said.

According to Oxford City Council, the city is expected to grow from 240,000 people today to 345,000 people by 2040.

It currently has an unmet housing need of more than 12,500 homes.

As part of proposals to change the structure of local government in Oxfordshire, the the city council has recommended plans to expand Oxford's boundaries to build more social homes on 2.6% of green belt land.

It comes as Andy Burnham promised to build 70,000 social and affordable homes in England during the next 10 years.