FAMILIES are settling into new homes near Kidlington built to meet a shortage of affordable properties in the district.

The 36 homes have been built by Charter Community Housing, a member of housing provider Sanctuary Group, in partnership with Cherwell District Council.

The £6m Bramley Close development, off Bicester Road in Gosford, is a mixture of rented and shared ownership homes and took about a year to build.

Michael Gibbard, the district council’s portfolio holder for planning and housing, said: “There is a shortage of affordable homes in the district.

“We’ve got 3,500 families on our waiting list.

“It doesn’t mean they are homeless, it might mean they live in an overcrowded house, or they are a couple looking for a house. There is a priority order depending on people’s situations.”

The green belt site is classed as a ‘rural exception site’ where land is provided solely for affordable homes.

Councillors will meet with parish representatives next month to discuss where similar sites could be located across north Oxfordshire.

Mr Gibbard said: “This site is quite special. It’s the largest rural exception site in the district.

“Just about every village says they want more houses for their young people.

“If parishes can identify sites on the edge of the villages and if they can find a land owner who is not going to charge top whack for the land then it’s quite possible that they can be built and earmarked for local people.”

“Occupiers must have a proven local link to the area in order to qualify for one of the homes.

“Whether they have lived in the Gosford or Water Eaton area, or have a grandparent who lives there, it’s quite clear there must be a local connection.

“I know two families who are delighted and one family of four just before Christmas said they were going to have a real Christmas tree in their front room.”

Half of the properties, set in courtyard-style grounds, are occupied. There are 22 one, two, three and four bedroom houses and 14 flats.

Jonathan Mullins, regional development manager for Sanctuary Group, said: “We have worked very hard with our partners to deliver a scheme in Kidlington that we can all be proud of.

“The site will provide the area with much-needed accommodation for local residents and we look forward to welcoming tenants into their homes.”