Affordable housing in Oxford’s a winner!

Housing association Peabody and OX Place’s new affordable homes for Oxford have been recognised with two national awards at the prestigious Inside Housing Development Awards (IHDA) 2023.

Published: 12/10/2023

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Peabody scooped the prize for best shared ownership development in Newman Place, Littlemore. While Oxford City Council’s housing company were winners in the best development team (rural/suburban) category.

Newman Place is a 100 percent affordable scheme, providing 162 homes for shared ownership and 111 for social rent.

OX Place’s development of 38 affordable homes at The Curve on Between Towns Road was highly commended in the best development (0-100 homes) category.

Newman Place was also shortlisted for best development (101-500 homes).

IHDA 2023 was judged by a panel of housing industry experts. For Peabody’s Newman Place development, the judges commented: "We can't fault this development - to make it 100% shared ownership for a huge range of different needs, in a traditionally unaffordable area, whilst also ensuring the design enhances the landscape and responding to the heritage, is really well done.”

On OX Place’s award for best development team, they said: “The team demonstrated key delivery outputs and it was great to hear the community voice in their submission. The panel were particularly impressed with the number of residents from the Oxford area that they were able to support through full time work or work experience and their ‘Building Lives Academy’. The partnership with Springhill Prison was also felt to be unique. The team demonstrated a drive to deliver homes sustainably benefitting the residents and the wider community.”

Simon Barry, Regional Managing Director (New Homes) at Peabody, said: “There’s a real shortage of affordable homes in Oxford so we hope the 273 new social and shared ownership homes just four miles south of the city centre will make a positive difference for local families.

“Oxford is a world-class city and excellent place to live, but this also makes it challenging to deliver genuinely affordable homes.  Average house prices are more than 17 times the average salary in the city, so we’re pleased that 162 households have the opportunity to get on the property ladder here through shared ownership.

“It's fantastic to see Newman Place win the best shared ownership development award, as well as being shortlisted for a second. But most importantly, these residents love where they live at a price they can afford.”

Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing, said: “Providing more affordable housing is one of our top priorities, and I’m thrilled to see our housing company and partner Peabody getting well-deserved recognition for their efforts.

“Developments like Newman Place and The Curve are important contributions to our four-year target of 1,600 new affordable homes by the end of 2025/26. Each one of these makes a life-changing difference to people’s lives.”

Helen Horne, managing director of OX Place, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our hard-working development team. It’s great to see them get the acknowledgement they deserve for delivering design-led, sustainable and affordable homes for people in Oxford.”