A new block of 12 affordable homes has been officially opened in Princes Street, East Oxford, providing much-needed social rent housing for local residents. The development, a collaboration between Oxford City Council’s OX Place and LIFE Build, consists of six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments in a three-storey L-shaped building. These homes are situated next to the newly redeveloped East Oxford Community Centre.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place today (26th February), was attended by city councillors and local residents. The apartments are designed to meet the city’s urgent housing needs, with social rent levels set at around 40% of private sector rental prices.
Designed with Sustainability in Mind
The Princes Street homes are designed with a strong focus on sustainability. Built around a shared garden space, the apartments feature high-quality insulation, excellent airtightness, and all-electric heating powered by energy-efficient air source heat pumps. This development exceeds building regulations by 88%, reducing carbon emissions by 48% more than the planning requirement.
In a bid to promote renewable energy use, the block is equipped with rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, providing residents with access to “free” renewable electricity during daylight hours.
A Step Forward for Affordable Housing in Oxford
OX Place is spearheading Oxford City Council’s initiative to deliver high-quality affordable homes across the city, with a focus on long-term affordability, design quality, and sustainability. These 12 new homes are part of the council’s ongoing efforts to address the city’s housing crisis, ensuring that more residents have access to truly affordable housing.
Council and OX Place Comments
Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing at Oxford City Council, highlighted the importance of these new homes:
“Oxford desperately needs more genuinely affordable homes, and Princes Street is a great example of how OX Place is delivering them across the city. Here on Cowley Road, one of the most vibrant parts of the city, we’re providing high-quality social rent homes with community facilities, transport, and shops on the doorstep. These homes are not only genuinely affordable but, like the brand-new community centre next door, low carbon too. We’re helping residents reduce energy bills while supporting our climate ambitions. We’re strengthening the heart of one of Oxford’s most characterful neighbourhoods by building homes for local people to truly put down roots in the community.”
Roger Thompson, Managing Director of OX Place, shared his pride in the development:
“OX Place is proud to deliver a truly special new community in the centre of the Cowley Road. These are low-carbon, high-quality, new homes that demonstrate what’s possible when we build with people and the planet in mind.”
These newly opened homes represent a significant milestone in Oxford’s efforts to meet its affordable housing targets while ensuring that the city remains environmentally responsible.
