The first phase of major regeneration work for an estate in south Oxford which has been postponed several times has now been deemed viable.
Phase one of the Blackbird Leys regeneration project, which includes the building of 196 new homes, community and retail facilities and new enhanced public space, will now move into the delivery phase.
Oxford City Council will allocate £21.5 million for the project, with hoardings set to go up before Christmas and construction to begin early next year.
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Linda Smith, Oxford City Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This development is something local people have been promised for a long time. It’s very exciting that it’s now going ahead.
“It’s been delayed several times, but the council is now in a position to be very clear about how this development will take place.
“Very soon we’ll be signing a contract with a builder.
"The project in total – after both phases are complete – will deliver just short of 300 new affordable homes for Oxford, a new community centre, new district centre for Blackbird Leys and new shops.
“It’s a big change for the neighbourhood.”
Ms Smith went on to say that due to inflation and the rising cost of construction, the council is not in a position to put forward a cost for the second phase at the moment.
She added: “It’s such a big scheme. No one really wants to fix down costs for years in advance at the moment. The bulk of the project is this first phase, and as we get closer to delivering phase two we’ll pin down the prices.
“It’s really important that we’ve got this certainty in pinning down the construction costs for the first phase.”
The first phase of the development will see the demolition of the existing community centre with current tenant and user groups temporarily relocated within the Blackbird Leys estate.
The site will then be redeveloped to provide a new community centre next to a new mixed-use building with 48 flats above new retail units.
The phase also includes 55 new flats to be built to the south of Evenlode Tower, and a new development of 84 shared ownership and social rent houses in Knights Road.
The second phase of the development will deliver a further 98 homes.
Blackbird Leys Parish Council has concerns about the implementation of this development, particularly around the community centre.
A spokeswoman said: “The land on which the existing community centre sits is pivotal to the delivery of the district centre proposals.
“But the community centre itself, now and in the future, is pivotal to the success and identity of Blackbird Leys as a sustainable community.
“Just the perception that the facilities can be demolished, and their future re-provision is left to a later date is of great concern to local residents.”
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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.
Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1
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