RUN-DOWN garages are to be redeveloped for social housing, Oxford City Council leaders have agreed.

Fourteen garage sites in the city have been identified as difficult to rent and manage and housing managers believe they would be ideal for affordable homes.

While the council's Labour and Liberal Democrat groups agree that the sites are suitable locations for new homes, they do not agree on the proportion of social housing for each site.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Rundle told the executive board this week that the housing scrutiny committee wanted to see close to 100 per cent social housing on the sites, without delaying the schemes. The board agreed that it would try to keep the proportion of social housing as high as possible -- at least 50 per cent -- but concluded that a mix of social housing and private housing would be the most realistic option.

Mr Rundle said: "The council needs, frankly, to put its money where its mouth is and make good its commitment to increasing affordable housing provision in the city -- and the garage sites give a really good opportunity right now to demonstrate that commitment isn't just fine words.

"The executive board has left the door open for money to be put into upping the percentage but, to be honest, the door is only just ajar.

"As chairman of housing scrutiny, I will continue to push that we maximise the provision of affordable housing on these sites and elsewhere across the city. In other words, I will be pushing at that door."

Ed Turner, the executive member for housing, said: "All parties are working together to get the best possible use out of these rundown sites." In January, east Oxford residents told of their frustration that plans to turn a derelict garage site in Barracks Lane into a community garden were being delayed by plans for affordable housing on the site. They said the garages were being used by drug addicts and children playing truant.

The council has selected Warden Housing Association to go ahead with the proposals.

But it said none of the developments would take place without consultation with residents.