Council taking action to tackle housing shortage with new 100% affordable homes for young people in the heart of Witney

The development, proposed for part of the Council-owned Woodford Way car park, would provide one- and two-bedroom flats for social rent. The homes would directly meet the high need for this type of housing which is in short supply across the district and would help local young people who typically need this sort of accommodation. 

The site is well connected, offering easy access to shops, GP surgeries, public transport and other services, reducing the need for car travel and supporting footfall in the town centre. 

Cllr Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Care, said: 

“In the current climate, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for local people to stay living in the area they know, work in, and have connections to. House prices are now more than ten times the average salary, and demand for genuinely affordable homes is increasing. 

“In past public consultations, residents have told us there aren’t enough affordable options in the district that meet their needs. This scheme responds to that by providing high quality, sustainable housing in a central, accessible location.” 

More than 2,300 households are currently on the Council’s housing waiting list. Evidence from housing data, casework and community feedback points to a clear need for energy-efficient, lower-cost homes, particularly for single people, couples, and small families. 

As the landowner of the site, the Council can ensure all homes in the development are 100% affordable and built to modern design and environmental standards. The site is already allocated for housing in the Council’s adopted Local Plan and has therefore been earmarked for housing for many years. 

Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: 

“We are acting now because the need is urgent, with families, individuals and key workers in West Oxfordshire being priced out of the place they call home. This scheme is about delivering on what we’ve heard from residents: that we need more truly affordable homes – particularly social rent – in the right locations, with strong links to services and the community. 

“The Woodford Way site has long been identified for housing, and by using Council land, we can make sure this development brings lasting benefit to the community and helps strengthen the town centre.” 

The Council has carried out a detailed review of local parking provision after concerns were raised about the impact on local parking. 

Witney would still have over 1600 free car parking spaces in the town centre with recent surveys suggesting there is plenty of capacity. The adjacent Marriotts Walk multi-storey car park is underused, operating at 43% capacity with more than 350 spaces usually available. The car park also has 183 longer stay spaces. This offers enough capacity to accommodate the estimated 125 parking spaces displaced by the new homes.  

Under the current proposals, 90 parking spaces would remain on the Woodford Way site: 70 allocated for residents and 20 left for daytime and evening public use. The 20 spaces would be useable by the public and key workers currently using Woodford Way. A permit system is also being explored to provide additional overnight parking at Marriotts Walk multi-storey for residents and key workers, including NHS staff at Witney Community Hospital. This would be discussed with those groups as part of any consultation on the proposals later in the process 

Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, said: 

“We understand the concerns around parking and have considered carefully the alternatives available within nearby car parks in the town centre. The Marriotts Walk car park has plenty of capacity for longer-stay parking, and we are also exploring additional options for residents and key workers, alongside the spaces that will remain on site.” 

The Council is working closely with a local housing association and Homes England to take the scheme forward. Design work is ongoing, with public engagement planned for summer 2026 and a planning application expected to follow. 

This project forms part of the Council’s wider strategy to deliver more affordable housing, reduce homelessness, and support healthy, sustainable communities.