The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability has submitted a report to Cabinet that requests project approval and delegations to progress the development of affordable homes at Between Towns Road (Knights Court). This includes delegated authority to enter into the land purchase, build contracts and other necessary agreements and associated development costs, and virement of HRA capital funds.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the freehold acquisition of the Between Towns Road siteKnights Court on the terms set out in this report and at Appendix 1 and 2;

2.    Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in this report, and within the allocated HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements for the purchase of land; build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing; and

4.    Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £8.9 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the freehold acquisition of the Between Towns Road siteKnights Court on the terms set out in this report and at Appendix 1 and 2;
2. Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in this report, and within the allocated HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements for the purchase of land; build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing; and
4. Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £8.9 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;

The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability had submitted a report to Cabinet that requests project approval and delegations to progress the development of affordable homes at Between Towns Road (Knights Court). This includes delegated authority to enter into the land purchase, build contracts and other necessary agreements and associated development costs, and virement of HRA capital funds.

Councillor Linda Smith introduced the report, noting that the site was a former office block near Cowley Centre. She explained that the proposal was to retain the existing fabric of the building and convert it into residential use, which if achievable, would be an interesting and environmentally sustainable form of housing development. The proposals include the provision of units for temporary accommodation, helping to address the pressures previously discussed.

Councillor Brown commented that for clarity in future discussions, the site should continue to be referred to as “the site on Between Towns Road” as there had been some confusion around its naming.  

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the freehold acquisition of the Between Towns Road siteKnights Court on the terms set out in this report and at Appendix 1 and 2;
2. Grant project approval to finalise the scheme design, to the proposals to enter into build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts and incur associated development cost spends, as set out in this report, and within the allocated HRA capital budgets and business plan, for the purpose of delivering more affordable housing in Oxford;
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Council’s Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements for the purchase of land; build contracts and any other necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the development within the identified budget, for the provision of additional affordable housing; and
4. Grant approval for a virement within the HRA capital budget for scheme costs of £8.9 million. The virement will be from the “Properties purchased from OCHL” (Oxford City Housing Limited) purchase line into a new scheme line to be profiled to match the build programme across the four years from 2025/26 to 2028/29;