Oxford residents want more houses to be built, survey finds

The survey found only 16 per cent of residents are satisfied with the number of homes being built by the council, down from 17 per cent last year.

The affordability of housing was also a concern, with 37 per cent of residents listing it as one of the top factors that makes somewhere a good place to live.

The survey results come after the Planning Inspectorate recommended the withdrawal of the council’s Local Plan 2040 because it was proposing to go beyond a standard assessment of the number of homes needed.

The council had identified a need for 1,322 new homes a year in and around Oxford, above the target of 762 new homes a year set using the ‘standard method’ for determining housing need.

However, the Planning Inspectorate said there are no exceptional circumstances justifying going beyond the ‘standard method’.

The council said it is currently considering its options following the inspectorate's withdrawal recommendation.

The survey also found a small improvement in levels of satisfaction with the council’s work and with the local area as a place to live.

Seventy per cent of residents are satisfied with their local area, up from 66 per cent in 2023, and 54 per cent are satisfied with the council’s performance, up from 52 per cent in 2023.

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "I am obviously pleased that Oxford residents generally have a positive view of the council and our core services, including recycling and parks.

Councillor Susan Brown (Image: Contributed) "But residents’ continued and understandable concerns about housing reinforce just what a setback the Planning Inspectorate’s decision was earlier this year.

"Everyone who lives or works in Oxford knows how bad the housing crisis is - we are all living through it every day.

"Building more affordable housing is my number one priority and one that we have been delivering on.

"Over the last five years, we have built or enabled 856 new affordable homes in Oxford."

The survey also revealed a pessimistic view about Oxford’s economy and personal finances.

Despite the city being one of the UK’s fastest-growing local economies with an unemployment rate of 2.3 per cent, 34 per cent of residents said the economy is "not doing well" and 13 per cent said it is "really struggling".

Only 17 per cent of residents believe their personal finances will improve in the coming year, compared to 31 per cent who expect them to worsen.

The survey took place between July 8 and September 15, and involved 899 Oxford residents.