SODC Cabinet agrees move for more affordable housing

PROPOSALS made by South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet earlier today (25 October) could pave the way for the council to deliver more high-quality, environmentally sustainable and genuinely affordable housing across the whole of southern Oxfordshire.

The Cabinet agreed:

• The preparation of a report to recommend suitable options for the council to bring a wider range of housing to South Oxfordshire.
• As part of this report, to consider what options exist to prioritise Berinsfield as a pilot location for any new approach to housing delivery in the district
• To identify whether the housing market across both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts means a joint solution and approach would be beneficial to both

This came following a motion agreed at full council earlier this year proposed by the cabinet member for development and regeneration and ward member for Berinsfield, Cllr Robin Bennett.

At that time Cllr Bennett asked for a report on ways to use council powers and resources to deliver more high-quality, environmentally sustainable and genuinely affordable housing at social rent or similar cost.

Thame’s District Councillor, Pieter-Paul Barker, cabinet member for Partnership and Insight, said: “There is a clear housing affordability crisis in the district and it is also clear that councils cannot rely on the private sector alone to meet the shortfall in housing at genuinely affordable prices.

“Investigating options for creating a new model of housing delivery in South Oxfordshire would enable the council to help communities thrive and provide a wider variety of residences to meet a wide variety of needs.

“In addition, a more proactive and direct approach, such as these proposals, could help to sustain additional income for the council in the longer term.”