Eighty new affordable homes set for Chipping Norton

Work has started on a new development of affordable homes dedicated to people with extra care needs.

Golden Mill at Rockhill, Chipping Norton will feature 80 homes with an equal split of one and two bedroom apartments.

Sixty of the homes will be available for affordable rent with the remainder being shared ownership.

It is expected that many of the new residents over the age of 55 will come from the housing waiting list in West Oxfordshire, as well as those with extra care needs in the area.

Facilities will include a café and hair salon with a 24-hour care team on site for those who need it.

The development is a partnership between housing provider Housing 21, West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council and is being built by Deeley Construction.

It has received £2.9m of funding from the Oxfordshire Growth Deal and is due for completion in August 2021 with the first residents moving in shortly after.

Cllr Jeff Haine, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring enough affordable housing is built to meet the needs of local residents.

“We know there is a real demand for housing of this type in the District so it is fantastic to see this significant development getting off the ground.”

Lorraine Jenner, Head of Extra Care at Housing 21, said: “We will be working closely with the local schools, older people’s groups and the social work teams in Chipping Norton to ensure there is a fully integrated community feel to the scheme.”

Cllr Lawrie Stratford, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council said: “This development will be so much more than just a place to live - it is being set up with the vision of creating an active and engaged community to support the wellbeing of its residents.

“We were delighted to support this project with the land and to work with our partners Housing 21 and West Oxfordshire District Council to make this collective vision become a reality.”

Martin Gallagher, Managing Director of Deeley Construction, said: “We have delivered many schemes in the housing and care sector, but this is our first with Housing 21 and it has been great to be part of such a collaborative process.”