£6m government boost to unlock 15,000 homes in Oxfordshire

August 11, 2017 / Isla MacFarlane
£6m government boost to unlock 15,000 homes in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is set to benefit from thousands of new homes and improvements to local transport networks thanks, to a £6.2 million government cash injection, Housing Minister Alok Sharma has announced.

Government funding has been awarded to South Oxfordshire district council to accelerate the delivery of Didcot’s Northern Perimeter Road. As a critical transport link around Didcot, it will be one of the new roads that will be key to the success of Didcot Garden Town, a locally-led development which aims to build over 15,000 homes by 2031.

The infrastructure investment promises to boost economic growth across the Science Vale and enterprise zone, increasing employment by 20,000 over the next 20 years.

Housing and Planning Minister, Alok Sharma said, “We need to deliver the right infrastructure in the right places to speed up house building and deliver the homes this country needs.

“This £6.2 million funding is excellent news for the Oxfordshire area, promising to boost local growth and turbo-charge the delivery of thousands of new homes.”

County Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of Oxfordshire county council, said, “The county council is pleased to see Oxfordshire’s growth ambitions recognised by the funding announcement today. The Northern Perimeter Road will provide a critical link in and around Didcot and will provide the much needed infrastructure to support the new homes planned for Didcot.

“Oxfordshire county council looks forward to working in partnership with South Oxfordshire district council and Lady Grove East developers to ensure the scheme adds to the successful delivery of Didcot Garden Town, ensuring that Oxfordshire continues to be a thriving place to live and work.

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Chief Executive, Nick Walkley added, “This autumn, the HCA will relaunch as Homes England with the ambition of creating a better housing market. We’re determined to get more homes built now and increase the rate of future development.

“This development is a fantastic example of how we fund infrastructure which is the vital first step in developing a new garden town, creating a new community and providing much-needed homes and jobs.”

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