PEOPLE living in Oxford are being asked to give their views on a five-year plan to tackle the city’s housing and homelessness crisis.

Oxford City Council’s draft housing, homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2023-2028 sets out the authority’s intentions to “provide more affordable and low carbon homes, improve conditions for renters in all tenures and do more to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.”

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The council said its vision for the strategy is:

  • providing more, affordable homes
  • great homes for all
  • housing for a net zero carbon future
  • preventing homelessness and adopting a rapid rehousing response
  • ending rough sleeping

Their target is for 1,600 new 'affordable homes' by the end of 2025/26 with at least 850 of these let at social rent.

The authority is also investing £51m on maintenance, refurbishments and improvements to estates and £8.7m to improve energy efficiency in council homes.

Councillor Linda Smith, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “If you’d like to play a part in shaping our response to Oxford’s housing and homelessness crisis, now is the time to make your voice heard.

“The challenges we face have been sharpened by the rapidly rising cost of living, which is likely to increase demand for council services at a time when we are also facing significant financial pressure.

“We believe our draft strategy will help us work more effectively towards meeting those challenges and we really value your views on our plans.”

Consultation on the plan is open on the council’s portal and will close at 11:59 pm on Thursday (December 8).

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

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