Plans progress for new fully affordable development in the heart of Witney

A recent survey of car parking spaces across Witney showed that there is car parking space currently underused during the day, particularly in the Marriotts Walk car park. 

The proposal would see part of the adjacent Woodford Way Car Park transformed into a high-quality housing development of genuinely affordable one- and two-bedroom homes. This type of housing is in very short supply in the district and this site, with its proximity to key services, is the ideal location for such a development.  

The car park was always meant to be temporary, and the site was earmarked for housing in the Council’s Local Plan which was adopted in 2018 and consulted on with residents at the time.  

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

“This is a key opportunity to provide truly affordable homes for people in Witney. It’s about making sure people can afford to stay in the town they call home, close to their jobs, their children’s schools, their family, friends and support networks. 

“The site was always intended for housing, and this is the first step in delivering on that promise. With so many residents in need, we have a responsibility to use council-owned land to meet that demand. These will be homes designed for real local need: energy-efficient, high quality, and close to shops, services and public transport.

“We understand the value of this site to the community and are committed to working closely with residents and stakeholders as the plans progress to get their thoughts on how we make this the best possible development.” 

With over 2,200 households currently waiting for one-bedroom homes in West Oxfordshire, this development will be part of a broader commitment by the Council to increase the supply of social rent housing and ease pressure on local people priced out of the private rental market in partnership with a local Housing Association. 

As part of the initial feasibility work, the Council has earmarked £215,000 in developer contributions to explore the design and funding of a scheme that could deliver around 70 affordable homes on up to 70% of the Woodford Way site in partnership with a local housing association.  

The Council aims to retain approximately 70 car parking spaces - including all existing electric vehicle charging points - to support overnight parking needs. This would be defined in more detail later in the process as detailed plans are drawn up and discussed with residents and stakeholders. 

This means there will still be plenty of parking spaces nearby for local people, workers and visitors. 

The plans for the site are at an early stage and residents will have an opportunity to comment on the proposals as the project progresses. The Council will also be consulting with key local stakeholders, such as the hospital, to help manage the impact of the proposals.