en.Wedoany.com Reported - The first phase of the Keepers Place all-affordable housing project in Littlemore, Oxford, UK, has been completed, with the first 47 social rent homes handed over. Councillors Linda Smith and Nigel Chapman joined representatives from OX Place (Oxford City Council's wholly-owned housing company), Oxford City Council, Homes England, and construction partner Cantay Estates at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a new phase in the community's development.
The first homes delivered are for social rent, allocated through the local council's housing register to meet urgent affordable housing needs. Located on the site of a former oil depot off Railway Lane, the project redevelops a long-vacant brownfield site to create a sustainable community, with improved pedestrian connections, including a new route to Thompson Terrace.
Upon full completion, Keepers Place will provide 90 affordable homes ranging from one to five bedrooms, comprising 47 social rent homes and 43 shared ownership homes, supported by grant funding from Homes England. The remaining phases of the project are expected to be completed by early 2027. All homes are fully electric, equipped with air source heat pumps, and designed with a fabric-first approach to reduce energy consumption and household bills. Each property is expected to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of B or above. The scheme achieves over 65% carbon emission reductions compared to 2022 Building Regulations standards.
Residents will benefit from landscaped communal areas, enhanced biodiversity, improved pedestrian routes, and facilities supporting sustainable travel, including electric vehicle charging points. Social rent levels are typically around 40% of what a private landlord would charge for a similar home; the shared ownership model offers buyers a flexible pathway to homeownership in Oxford's high-cost housing market.
Councillor Linda Smith (Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Affairs) said the completion of the first social rent homes is a significant milestone for the community, with high-quality, low-carbon, energy-efficient new homes helping local residents and families stay in the city they call home. She noted that OX Place is building hundreds of affordable homes across Oxford through similar projects, with Keepers Place, as one of the largest developments, ultimately providing 90 affordable homes and contributing to addressing Oxford's housing needs.
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