Work has started on a new development of 80 affordable homes on land west of Mill Lane in Old Marston, in a scheme Oxford City Council says will help address the city’s severe housing shortage while trying to fit the character of the village edge.
The development is being delivered by OX Place, Oxford City Council’s housing company, with homes designed by BM3 Architects and built by Howarth Contractors Limited.
All 80 homes will be affordable, with 32 for rent and 48 for shared ownership.
What is being built at Mill Lane?
The scheme will provide a mix of houses and apartments, including:
- 13 one-bedroom apartments
- 28 two-bedroom homes
- 35 three-bedroom homes
- 4 four-bedroom homes
Oxford City Council says the development has been designed to meet local housing need in one of the least affordable cities in the country.
All 80 homes will be affordable
One of the most significant features of the scheme is that every home on the site will be affordable.
That includes rented homes, where tenants typically pay around 40% of local private rents, and shared ownership homes aimed at helping people take a first step onto the housing ladder.
The council’s latest announcement marks a notable shift from the earlier planning stage, when documents described the wider 80-home scheme with only part of the development classed as affordable housing.
Planning history and why the site matters
The Mill Lane site has long been identified for housing in Oxford’s planning framework.
Planning documents show the land was allocated for residential development under Policy SP26 in the Oxford Local Plan 2036, and planning permission for the scheme was granted in March 2022.
The start of construction is therefore a major step in bringing forward a site that has been earmarked for new homes for several years.
Designed to fit Old Marston’s character
Oxford City Council says the scheme has been designed to reflect the rural edge-of-village setting of Old Marston and the nearby Conservation Area.
The homes will feature:
- light brick and stone façades
- red and grey tiled roofs
- timber weatherboarding
- modest dormer windows
- front gardens framed by low stone walls and hedgerows
- cottage-style planting
BM3 says the design had to respond to a number of local constraints, including the nearby conservation area, surrounding Green Belt and site accessibility issues.
Public open space, walking routes and village green
The development also includes a wider placemaking element beyond the homes themselves.
A new village green is planned along the western edge of the site, providing accessible public open space with countryside views and natural play areas for residents and the wider community.
The layout has been designed around a street network inspired by Old Marston’s traditional lanes, with new pedestrian and cycle connections linking the site to Cumberlege Close and nearby public rights of way.
Low-carbon homes with solar panels and heat pumps
The homes have been designed using a fabric-first low-carbon approach aimed at reducing heat loss and energy demand.
Features include:
- high levels of insulation
- improved airtightness
- solar PV panels to provide electricity to all homes
- air source heat pumps for the houses
- heat pumps to provide hot water in the apartments
The wider environmental approach also includes modular construction and the use of sustainably sourced materials, according to BM3.
Drainage and biodiversity measures included
The development includes a range of sustainable drainage features designed to manage surface water and improve resilience to extreme weather.
These include:
- an attenuation pond
- permeable paving
- swales
The council says these will sit alongside:
- wildflower meadows
- flowering lawns
- wetland habitats
The aim is to improve biodiversity while also helping the site cope with heavy rainfall.
Council has already approved purchase of the homes
The council has already taken formal financial steps to secure the homes for public ownership.
In January 2026, Oxford City Council approved agreements for the Housing Revenue Account to purchase all 80 affordable homes at Mill Lane from OX Place.
That means the scheme already forms part of the council’s wider affordable housing programme.
Local concerns have been raised in the past
The start of construction may also revive wider questions about growth in and around Old Marston.
During the planning process, parish and heritage bodies raised concerns about the cumulative impact of development in the area, including traffic, pressure on the village edge and the relationship of new housing to the surrounding landscape.
Those issues are likely to remain part of the local conversation as the scheme progresses.
When will the homes be finished?
Construction is expected to take just over two years, with the homes due for completion towards the end of 2028.
What the council and developers say
Councillor Linda Smith, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said:
“Oxford is one of the least affordable places to live in the country, so developments like this are absolutely vital. These 80 new homes will provide more affordable options for local people – through new homes for social rent from the council, through helping residents take their first step onto the housing ladder via shared ownership, and also by building in measures to help keep energy bills low.
“We are proud to be building high quality affordable and environmentally sustainable homes that also fit sensitively into their historic and natural surroundings in Old Marston.”
Roger Thompson, Managing Director of OX Place, said:
“OX Place is thrilled to be starting work on this important development, delivering 80 much needed affordable homes on behalf of Oxford City Council.
“This scheme reflects our commitment to building modern, sustainable communities, while respecting the natural beauty and character of Old Marston. Working in partnership with the council and Howarth Contractors Ltd, we are helping to deliver the homes that Oxford residents desperately need, as part of the city’s wider affordable housing programme.”
Ben Searle, Managing Director of Howarth Contractors Ltd, said:
“Howarth Contractors Ltd is delighted to be working in Oxfordshire and to be partnering with OX Place to deliver this important development. There is a clear need for high-quality, genuinely affordable homes in Oxford, and this scheme represents a meaningful step towards addressing that challenge.
“We are proud to be playing our part in creating sustainable, well-designed homes that will benefit the local community for years to come.”
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
| Development | Mill Lane affordable homes |
| Location | Land west of Mill Lane, Old Marston |
| Total homes | 80 |
| Affordable split | 32 for rent, 48 shared ownership |
| Home types | 13 one-bed apartments, 28 two-bed homes, 35 three-bed homes, 4 four-bed homes |
| Delivery partner | OX Place |
| Architect | BM3 Architects |
| Contractor | Howarth Contractors Ltd |
| Planning context | Policy SP26, Oxford Local Plan 2036 |
| Planning approval | March 2022 |
| Completion | Expected by late 2028 |
Why this matters
In a city where affordability remains one of the defining housing issues, the Mill Lane scheme is likely to be watched closely both as a source of much-needed homes and as a test of how major growth can be fitted into one of Oxford’s most sensitive edge-of-city locations
Quick Questions Answered
How many homes are being built at Mill Lane in Old Marston?
A total of 80 affordable homes are being built on land west of Mill Lane in Old Marston.
Will the Mill Lane homes be affordable?
Yes. All 80 homes will be affordable, including 32 rented homes and 48 shared ownership properties.
When will the Old Marston homes be completed?
Construction is expected to take just over two years, with completion expected towards the end of 2028.
Who is building the Mill Lane homes?
The development is being delivered by OX Place, designed by BM3 Architects and built by Howarth Contractors Limited.
