VITAL key worker flats above East Oxford Health Centre remain empty three years after the building opened, despite demand for affordable homes in the city.

Developers were told to provide 19 one-bed flats for essential services staff such as nurses, firefighters and teachers, as part of the £13m centre in Manzil Way.

But the flats have only just been advertised for rent, three years after the building opened, and all 19 remain empty.

The affordable flats will be let for £608 per month, almost £200 cheaper than the private market rent.

The delay in advertising has been blamed on “legal technicalities” by Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust, although it could not explain the problem.

Former city and county councillor Craig Simmons described the situation as “appalling”.

He said: “It’s an absolute scandal given the pressing need for affordable housing in Oxford that they have been empty for three years.

“Oxford has the highest level of homeless people outside London and there is a big public sector in Oxford which needs housing.”

Mr Simmons said the city council should do more to ensure affordable housing was not delayed He said: “Part of the planning permission conditions should be they need to be made available within a certain period of time.”

Mr Simmons, who served on Oxford City Council when planning permission was granted, said the building was approved because it addressed the city’s housing need.

The city council’s executive member for housing, Ed Turner, said although the council did not own the houses, it was doing all it could to resolve the situation.

“It is ridiculous in a city with an affordable housing shortage like Oxford to have these sat empty,” he said.

The health centre, which is home to two GP surgeries as well as various other community care services, was built as a private/public partnership under the Government’s LIFT initiative and opened its doors in March 2007.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust said: “The flats were not let out when East Oxford Health Centre was originally built because they were built to a shell-only specification and needed to be upgraded and fitted before they were available for rent.”

Legal issues between owner Oxford LIFTCo and the company that agreed to lease the flats caused further delays, she said.

“They are now leased to an investment company and being advertised internally throughout the NHS in Oxfordshire.

She added: “It is important to note that any potential loss of income from the renting of the flats by LIFTCo does not impact on the NHS locally.”

cburatta@oxfordmail.co.uk

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