Purchase of the land for the purpose of providing more affordable housing, through new build or acquisition activity. The JCT Design & Build contract to be tendered with the officer decision on award of contract to be brought forward at a later date.

To enter into an agreement with Homes England as part of their Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 (Continuous Market Engagement). This will allow submission of bids for Homes England grant to support the delivery of the Affordable Housing Supply programme.

As the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal comes to the end of its final/ fourth year of the programme (for new schemes), new affordable housing schemes coming forward from now onwards will seek to secure funding from Homes England, currently under the Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26.

The Homes England programme requires that organisations seeking funding have ‘Investment Partner’ and ‘Registered Provider’ status. Oxford City Council has both.

Furthermore, the Council is required to enter into contract with Homes England and to ensure that all funded schemes meet the Homes England requirements, including those detailed extensively in the Homes England ‘Capital Funding Guide’.

The decision to enter into agreement with Homes England will support and enable the delivery of Oxford City’s Affordable Housing Programme.

The option not to enter into the agreement was rejected, as this would not allow additional affordable housing to be delivered and would not be in line with the decision made by Cabinet in April 2022.

Decision taken by Stephen Gabriel, Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing; Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer and Susan Sale, Head of Law and Governance.