The first affordable homes to be built as part of the regeneration of Oxford’s Blackbird Leys are on track to be ready for new residents from this summer.
84 shared ownership homes, currently being built by Peabody and Oxford City Council at Knight’s Road, will be made available in a phased rollout between this summer and next spring. They will offer people an affordable route into home ownership. Anyone interested in the two- and three-bedroom homes is encouraged to visit peabodynewhomes.co.uk/theaviary or call 020 3468 2605 for more information.
Next spring will also see 61 brand new homes for social rent in the District Centre. These one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, also currently under construction, will go to households on the council’s housing waiting list, helping to meet the huge demand for social rent homes in the city. A further 51 social rent apartments are expected to be finished in 2027.
On Wednesday 26 March, Peabody, Oxford City Council and their construction partner The Hill Group held a ‘topping out’ ceremony to officially mark the construction of the first block of social homes reaching its highest point.
It was a significant milestone for the two-phase regeneration project, which will ultimately see a total of 294 new homes built in the District Centre and in Knights Road. The mix of houses and flats will accommodate larger families as well as smaller households.
The project will also bring a raft of improvements to the District Centre, with new shops, green spaces, dedicated cycle routes and a purpose-built community centre. A detailed planning application for the new community centre – to be owned and run by the council – was submitted in October, following extensive consultation with local people. The application is expected to be decided by Oxford City Council’s planning committee in early summer.
Comment
“Oxford is a world class city, but like many places, it’s expensive to live in and desperately needs more affordable housing. So, it's fantastic to see the construction at Blackbird Leys moving along so well. We're looking forward to making these homes available from later this year and to continue with the improvements that will revitalise the District Centre, benefiting everyone in the community."
Simon Barry, Regional Managing Director, Development at Peabody
“Topping out is a milestone in our partnership with Peabody, marking an important step towards the completion of the first new homes in the redevelopment of Blackbird Leys. We also hope to see a new Blackbird Leys Community Centre get planning permission in the coming months.”
Tom Bridgman, Deputy Chief Executive – Place for Oxford City Council
"It’s been fantastic to host this topping out milestone at Blackbird Leys in Oxford - reaching the highest point of this 10-storey apartment building is truly a moment to celebrate. We have constructed the first phase of this project for our long-standing partners at Peabody with a fabric-first approach, putting sustainability at the forefront of this design. The project includes green spaces, cycle routes and a community centre. We are now looking forward to completing these homes by summer 2027 so we can help Oxford City Council meet the large demand for high-quality affordable housing in the city.”
Greg Hill, Deputy Chief Executive of The Hill Group
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