Homes will be part of new Westgate

With a planning application to be submitted next month, the Westgate Partnership announced that it is working with the Bromford Housing Group to create 120 residential units within the massive retail scheme.

Developers say that they have responded to local calls to include more housing in Oxford's new shopping centre, with half of the new homes to be affordable.

But they face further opposition to plans to demolish 18 council homes for disabled and elderly occupants, with a local councillor accusing developers of holding Oxford city council "to ransom."

The proposed new residential units will be built on the eastern and western edges of the site. In Abbey Place, pictured, new homes would include buildings overlooking the Castle Mill Stream, where a riverside walk could be extended.

In Old Greyfriars Street there would be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, which would form a terrace facing a newly-landscaped pedestrianised street. But the local city and county councillor Sushila Dhall said disabled and elderly residents had been distressed at the prospect of losing their homes in Abbey Place.

The Green councillor for the Carfax ward said: "The developers are saying the whole scheme depends on demolishing the Abbey Place council housing. The housing was built with special facilities and to provide easy accessibility to the city centre.

"These are the most vulnerable people in my ward and they should be protected. You cannot just move residents with disabilities anywhere. I think the developers are holding the city council to ransom, with the threat that if they can't demolish the houses, they will have to withdraw. A fall-back position is needed if the demolition is not allowed."

Christian Patterson, a carer at Abbey Place, said: "People living here want to stay in the area. They moved here because they wanted easy access to city centre facilities. But there are still no proposals to build flats for the disabled in this development. Residents feel they are being pushed out of the area."

Jane McFarland, group development manager for the Westgate Partnership, said her company was working with the city council and Bromford Housing to ensure the affordable housing met local needs including, "adaptation for those with special needs, if required".

She said: "Providing new housing is an important part of our proposals for Westgate.

"One of the key areas of feedback we received on the masterplan proposals was the need to provide more city centre accommodation, as a result of which we increased the total number of units, both affordable and those for private sale."