The proposal by Oxford City Council to construct affordable housing on football pitches has drawn further criticism from local residents who oppose losing their recreational facilities.
The initiative involves developing 331 affordable residences on municipal land at Sandy Lane Recreation Ground, which has sparked opposition since gaining approval in the previous month.
The £97.6million project would involve converting the four football pitches located at the grounds—selected due to their closeness to the forthcoming Cowley Branch Line development—into a fully affordable housing project consisting of council-owned properties.
Despite assurances from the council that “new and improved” football pitch facilities would be available for community use prior to any construction commencing, local football clubs and residents have denounced the plan.
Nick Duval, representing the Kidlington Recreational Trust, expressed strong disapproval, stating that in his opinion, Linda Smith and her fellow council members should feel ashamed. He questioned their authority to dispose of a recreation ground established to serve the very residents who elected them to office. He suggested that these councillors, who were elected to serve and protect the community, were engaging in asset stripping. He characterized the move as a betrayal of local residents and warned that directing people to Herschel Crescent would set a negative example for future councils to follow.
He further indicated that this approach could make it easier for future councils to dispose of additional community spaces.
Oxford City Councillor Linda Smith, representing Blackbird Leys, clarified that this does not constitute an asset sale for revenue generation. Rather, it forms part of Oxford Labour’s strategy to address the city’s housing crisis by utilizing the council’s entirely owned housing company to construct homes.
The 331 new affordable residences will comprise 261 new council homes available for social rent, which will remove local households in priority need from the housing register and enhance living conditions for roughly 1,200 residents in the area.
Approximately 300 children would benefit from moving into safe, secure, energy-efficient, and affordable council-owned accommodation nearby, with excellent football facilities located very close by.
She noted that planning policy and legislation provides councils with a rigorous process for evaluating whether a location is appropriate for development—a process that Sandy Lane underwent when it was designated for housing and a new Cowley Branch Line station in the 2016-2036 Local Plan.
In addition to replacing the existing football pitches at a location 150 meters away at Herschel Crescent, the new development will establish high-quality green spaces utilizing existing trees and hedgerows surrounding the area, suitable for dog walking and exercise, along with new informal recreation spaces.