A MAJOR expansion and redevelopment of housing for Oxford NHS staff has started.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) and housing provider A2Dominion are working together on the scheme, which has been described as 'essential' for recruiting and retaining staff.

The affordable housing next to the Headington hospital site will include 125 flats in Ivy Lane for John Radcliffe workers and 19 in Churchill Drive for Churchill Hospital employees.

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Construction on the Churchill Drive homes began this month as the first phase of the project which will require demolishing the original hospital accommodation.

As well providing upgraded housing it will also create an additional 51 homes across both sites, which will be able to house approximately 430 staff.

Jim Smith, head of land and planning at A2Dominion, said: “We are delighted that work is now underway to build this new, high-quality accommodation for staff at two brilliant Oxford hospitals.

"We know how important our NHS staff are to the Oxfordshire community so we are glad to be able to build housing that suits their needs."

He added: "Staff who live on the hospital sites walk or cycle to work and tend to shop locally, supporting the local community.

"It also takes away the need for a car and cuts down on commuting traffic onto the hospital sites.”

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Terry Roberts, chief people officer at OUH, said: “We want to do everything we can to help our new Oxford-based staff to settle into the area. We are therefore delighted that work has begun at the Churchill Hospital.

“These homes are essential for the recruitment and retention of the trust’s staff as onsite accommodation reduces the high cost of rent from the local housing market, making Oxford more attractive for skilled workers.

“I’m really pleased that we are able to work in partnership with A2Dominion to improve and modernise our onsite accommodation and expand the number of homes we are able to offer to staff.”

Building work on Churchill Drive began in the first week of December, with an expected completion date of spring 2022.

Work on the Ivy Lane site will then begin in summer 2022, and is set to be finished by summer 2025.