A housing crisis we cannot ignore: West Oxfordshire pushes for homes people can afford

The proposal is a key part of the Draft Local Plan 2043, which sets out how the district should grow and respond to the needs of its communities. Residents and organisations are being encouraged to look at the proposals and supporting evidence as part of the current consultation. 

The affordability of new home is a key issue for West Oxfordshire, with just over 1,800 households currently on the housing waiting list and an estimated extra 110 households per year that aren’t able to afford to buy or pay market rent. With the average house costing more than £80,000 above the national average and nearly 10 times the average salary in the district, many local people struggle to find a suitable home close to their work, family and support networks, with a particular need for one- and two-bedroom properties. 

The current Local Plan generally seeks around two-thirds of affordable housing as affordable rented homes, with the precise mix agreed case by case. Typically this means homes to rent at around 80% of market rent. However, the new Draft Local Plan is seeking to introduce a specific requirement for at least 65% of affordable housing to be for social rent *1 and placing a clearer emphasis on meeting the district’s greatest housing need. It also proposes a single district-wide 40% affordable housing requirement on qualifying developments, replacing the existing approach of percentages dependent on location. 

Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: 

“There is a housing crisis in West Oxfordshire. Housing, whether renting or buying, is unaffordable to many and people are being priced out of living locally. That might be young people buying their first homes, people having to move due to change in circumstance or families whose needs have changed.   

“The number of houses in West Oxfordshire has nearly doubled in the past 40 years, yet the number of social rented homes has dropped. Over recent decades local people have been let down and by the lack of the right mix of housing. Whilst many large and expensive homes have been built, very few truly affordable homes have been delivered. 

“Having a secure home you can afford makes an enormous difference. It can mean children staying settled at school, people remaining close to relatives who depend on them, or someone starting their working life being able to stay in the community they grew up in. 

“That is why we are putting social rented homes at the heart of our new Local Plan. We want new developments to respond to the needs of local people, with clear expectations for developers about delivering the right mix of homes that local people can buy. These homes should be affordable to buy and affordable to run. 

“The Local Plan sets a clear expectation to developers that we want to increase the supply of social rented homes. As a council we are doing all we can to deliver local homes for local people.” 

Alongside its Local Plan proposals, the Council is calling for national action to help deliver more social rented homes. Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, has signed a cross-party open letter coordinated by Shelter and supported by more than 500 councillors, urging the Prime Minister and Chancellor to prioritise council and social housing in the Autumn Budget. *2 

The proposals build on the 352 affordable homes delivered in West Oxfordshire in 2025/26. This total includes different types of affordable housing, with the new Plan placing a clear emphasis on securing more homes for social rent. *3 

Residents and organisations are invited to review the proposals and the evidence behind them before the Plan is submitted for independent examination. 

The Regulation 19 consultation runs until 9 October 2026. To read the Draft Local Plan and submit comments, visit the Local Plan consultation website.