Oxford City Council has approved a business plan to create new homes, community centres, events and more across Oxford.
Every year, the Council creates a business plan setting out its delivery priorities for the next 12 months and outlining what has been achieved over the previous year.
The plans are set against the Council’s key priorities:
- Good, affordable homes
- Strong, fair economy
- Thriving communities
- Zero carbon Oxford
- Well-run council
The latest business plan was approved by the Council’s Cabinet last night.
Plan for 2025/26
The business plan sets out 34 objectives for the coming year, including:
- Good, affordable homes:
- Deliver a pipeline of new affordable homes and acquisitions
- Continue to meet the challenges of increasing homelessness and temporary accommodation use
- Ensure the continued improvement of the private-rented stock by renewing the Council’s licensing schemes
- Strong, fair economy:
- Continue to progress regeneration schemes to support local economic development, including Oxpens and Templars Square
- Ensure the benefits of growth are accessible to local people, through community employment plans, more apprenticeships and job opportunities
- Progress work to secure Cowley Branch Line delivery stage funding
- Thriving communities:
- Continue to invest in the Council’s leisure and community assets, including delivering new community centres in East Oxford and Blackbird Leys
- Create local action plans targeting areas of deprivation, and strengthen partnerships to address inequalities
- Work with partners to develop, support and manage more and larger events
- Zero carbon Oxford:
- Continue to bid for and deliver funding to achieve the Council’s energy efficiency target for its housing stock of 95% average EPC C by 2030
- Continue to provide targeted support for communities in fuel poverty and deprivation, including access to grants to retrofit homes
- Deliver expansion of Zero Carbon Oxfordshire to form a countywide partnership to help achieve a net zero Oxfordshire by 2050
- Well-run council
- Identify additional efficiencies and income streams, including financial returns generated by our two wholly owned companies, ODS and OX Place
- Continue to invest in ICT equipment, AI and staff training to boost productivity, improve services, cut costs, and engage more with citizens
Achievements in 2024/25
The business plan lists dozens of achievements in 2024/25, including:
- Purchased 25 homes to become council homes, and completed the construction of 76 new affordable homes for Oxford residents
- Reached agreement with neighbouring district councils, so those on Oxford’s housing waiting list can access new council homes near the city
- Granted planning permission for the redevelopment of Oxpens, and started work on the new homes and community space in Blackbird Leys
- Continued to promote the Oxford Living Wage, which is now paid by 150 employers to about 46,000 people
- Worked with More Leisure to upgrade gym equipment at Oxford’s leisure centres
- As part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, on track to upgrade 281 council homes to EPC C by the end of 2025
- Identified nine potential sites to deliver biodiversity net gain on council land
The full business plan for 2025/26 can be read on the Council’s website.
The business plan is part of the Council’s Strategy for 2024-28.
“Oxford is a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but we know there is more to do to make the city fairer for everyone.
“Our latest business plan includes building more new council homes, taking action against rogue landlords, building new community centres, supporting local businesses to thrive in our city’s growing economy, progressing the Cowley Branch Line and retrofitting older homes.
“All of this will make life easier for Oxford residents – providing more affordable and better housing, more affordable places to hang out with friends, and easier ways of getting around the city.”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
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