THE developer behind the £20m redevelopment of the Castle Mill boatyard should not have to meet city targets for affordable housing, a report has claimed.

The long-awaited Jericho scheme was significantly altered this week in a concession to English Heritage, the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT) and local groups.

But the Oxford Mail has learned that an independent report on whether half of the proposed homes should be affordable has backed developer claims it would make the scheme “unviable.”

Think tank Centre for Cities labelled Oxford the least affordable city in the UK recently, and not one affordable home was built last year.

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The redevelopment would see a public square created in front of St Barnabas Church next to Oxford Canal, bordered by a boatyard, community centre, cafe, pre-school, restaurant and luxury homes.

Full plans were submitted to Oxford City Council in May, but provoked anger when it emerged that just seven of 22 homes included would be affordable.

City council policy states half of homes in new developments must be affordable, except in special circumstances.

Developer Strategic Iconic Assets Heritage Acquisition Fund (SIAHAF) said meeting the quota would make the scheme too expensive. This week city council spokesman Chofamba Sithole confirmed an independent report, commissioned by the authority and the developer, backed that claim.

SIAHAF spokesman Nick Band said: “It has always been our concern that the huge cost of the community infrastructure – the community centre, boatyard and public square – would have to be recouped from the sale of private houses. The report supports our position and we hope the council take this into consideration.”

It came as SIAHAF agreed alterations to the scheme, after objections threatened to derail hopes to have it approved by Christmas.

Architects scaled down and redesigned the roof of the community centre, moved a bridge and made the proposed terraced houses smaller.

Mr Band said the bridge had been moved after the CRT said it allowed too little turning room for boaters. It will now be adjacent to Great Clarendon Street, not Cardigan Street.

Community centre changes followed concerns raised by English Heritage and the St Barnabas Church parochial council that its height would spoil views of the church.

The changes begin a new consultation period, giving residents until December 5 to respond to the revised plans.

It means they could still be considered by the city council’s west area planning committee on December 10.

But the alterations disappointed residents group Jericho Wharf Trust.

Spokesman Peter Stalker said: “[Moving the bridge] will have a significant impact on the liveliness of the square, and will reduce the potential for passing trade for the restaurant and the community centre cafe.

“The reconfiguration reduces the size of a boatyard workshop... but the main effect is to significantly reduce the size of rooms in the community centre, with a corresponding reduction in potential income.”

 

 

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