A BUS company is looking to build its own accommodation for drivers because of Oxford's housing crisis.

Phil Southall, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, warned the city's chronic shortage of homes looked set to be a problem for the 'forseeable future'.

His comments come more than a 18 months after the firm first floated the idea due to recruitment problems.

The company is struggling to hire bus drivers because of the high cost of living in the city, which studies have shown to be one of the country's 'least affordable' areas.

Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, said he 'sympathised' with the bus company because it was one of several employers with recruitment difficulties.

He added: "It is the same problem that comes up again and again.

"There is just not enough labour around in Oxford and we need more homes for people to live in.

"People want to live close to where they work. And understandably the bus company ideally doesn't want to hire drivers for the city who are having to come from places like Banbury every day."

According to the most recent figures available, the city council has granted permission for 4,422 homes overall since 2006.

This is dwarfed by the number thought to be needed by 2032 however – as many as 32,000.

The number of affordable houses built over the past 10 years has also varied significantly.

In 2006/7 the total number completed was 267 but this steadily dropped and reached zero in 2013/14.

The figure in 2015/16 has since risen to 164.

A city council planning rule introduced in the past five years requires developers to make half of homes in new schemes 'affordable'.

Speaking this week, Mr Southall said: "At present we aren't actively pursuing building dormitory accommodation but it will need to remain an option for the foreseeable future should the need arise."

"Like many things, the housing shortage is a complex problem with no silver bullet solution.

"We should keep an open mind about sensible urban extensions of Oxford, even if this means reviewing the Green Belt.

"Ensuring that district councils meet the agreed quotas of affordable housing within individual developments is also an important factor."

His comments come as Cherwell District Council has proposed plans to build more than 4,000 homes around Kidlington.

Of these, some 2,200 would go on protected Green Belt land, between the village and Oxford.

The district council says it will help meet demand for housing that cannot be addressed in the city due to a lack of space.

It has been backed by Mr Price and the city council, who argue the area north of the city is the best location for new developments due to existing transport links.