Plans to turn 352 homes into council housing

Work to begin building the Barton Park development began in 2015

Plans to turn 352 properties on a housing development into council homes has been announced.

Oxford City Council wants to use its housing revenue account (HRA) to buy 168 homes at Barton Park for £33.4m from its own development company, OX Place.

It then plans to use £39.7m from 2024/25 to 2027/28 to buy another 184 affordable homes directly from developers to let as council housing once they are ready to live in.

The proposals will go before cabinet on 16 October before a final decision is made at a full council meeting on 25 November.

Existing tenancies - already set at reduced rates - will become secure council tenancies when they are transferred on 2 December, the authority said.

Barton Park is being built on land located off the A40 Northern bypass (pictured before construction began)

Councillor Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing and communities, said: "Government borrowing restrictions back in 2015 meant we wouldn't have been able to deliver Barton Park without putting the affordable homes in the care of our housing company, OX Place.

"This measure is no longer needed and it's now time to formally bring the affordable homes in Barton Park under the council's direct ownership and control.

"This is a good thing for everyone. Tenants will still be paying social rent and get more rights.

"OX Place will be free to focus on building high quality affordable homes.

"The [housing revenue account] will gain more than 350 new homes and the rent their tenants pay will make a valuable contribution to our plans for delivering more council homes and improving our existing properties."

The authority said the plans would represent "a significant boost" to the current asset base of about 7,800 council homes.