A major housebuilding initiative on safeguarded countryside near Kidlington has been given the green light by the council, enabling construction to begin.
The Hill Group has obtained consent for a new housing development in Kidlington, north Oxfordshire, comprising 96 homes to be built on land previously designated as green belt.
The site, located at Bicester Road and Water Eaton Lane in Gosford, Kidlington, forms part of a larger housing programme outlined in the Cherwell District Council development plan, which includes a total of 430 new homes.
Half of the 96 dwellings will be affordable, consisting of a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes.
These will be provided through Shared Ownership and affordable rental schemes, working alongside housing association Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
Alongside the homes with varying tenures, the scheme will include formal and informal recreational spaces and children’s play areas designed for future residents.
All properties available for private sale will be houses ranging from two to five bedrooms.
The Hill Group has confirmed that the land has now been acquired by the developer following a lengthy process to progress the scheme.
Andy Hill OBE, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, described the planning consent as representing almost seven years of commitment, collaboration and persistence from the planning team. He explained that bringing forward sites of this complexity demands time, patience and a willingness to work closely with all stakeholders. He expressed delight at reaching this important milestone and noted the strong working relationships built with Cherwell Council, which have been crucial in making the development possible. According to Hill, North Oxford has a clear need for both market and affordable housing, and this scheme will deliver exactly that, along with significant benefits for the wider community.
This comes after Kidlington was granted town status in February this year, following a unanimous vote by the parish council and community consultation, giving the surrounding green belt greater protection under new Government planning policy.
Elected members observed that the town status would bolster Kidlington’s defence against unwanted development and prevent it from being merged into Oxford.
Under the planning agreement, 0.5 hectares of land will be donated by the developer to the parish council to expand the town’s cemetery, addressing Kidlington’s infrastructure requirements for the future, according to the developer.
Jenny Grote, land and business new business director south for SNG, described having an extremely positive and longstanding relationship with Hill and expressed delight at working together again to deliver a range of high-quality, much-needed affordable homes in Kidlington that will truly benefit local residents.
Construction is due to get underway next spring, with the first homes anticipated to be completed in spring the following year.