Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT), to whom Soha is providing expertise and guidance to progress a community-led housing project in Oxford, has announced the signing of a funding agreement.
The funding agreement is with the Vale of White Horse District Council. OCLT – an initiative run by volunteers – has additionally secured private finance and entered into a Building Contract to construct eight apartments for affordable rent in Dean Court, Botley.
OCLT acquired the site in April 2019 and obtained planning consent in April 2020 to build five 1-bed flats and three 2-bed flats. In 2021 it was awarded funding from the Vale of White Horse District Council and the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal. It has been awarded grant funding from the Community Housing Fund, funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). It is also grateful for grant assistance from the Low Carbon Hub.
Works will start on site soon and are programmed to complete in 2023. OCLT’s objective is that these dwellings will be available for affordable rent in perpetuity.
OCLT achieved Registered Provider (RP) status with the Regulator of Social Housing in October last year. OCLT and Soha work together to ensure that the Trust achieves best standards in Development and Housing Management.
The flats will provide much needed homes to people on the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Housing Register. Preference will be given to people with a connection to the local area, Dean Court, Cumnor Parish and the immediately adjacent parishes in VWHDC. It is intended that residents will manage the flats as a co-operative. Allocation of the homes will be made through White Horse Homechoice. Those interested in living in one of the new homes should make sure they are registered with Homechoice.
OCLT will continue to depend on the generosity of grant funders and donors until there is a big enough portfolio of permanently affordable homes to generate a small income to support an office. If you would like to help this innovative, equitable and sustainable approach to housing please contact www.oclt.org.uk