THE first residents have now moved in at Oxford’s new Barton Park development.

The 885-home estate is a joint venture between Grosvenor and Oxford City Council and housebuilder Hill has now completed a number of homes for families to move into as part of the scheme called Mosaics Oxford.

Hill sales manager for Barton Park Claire Kemp said 11 out of 14 two-bedroom apartments at the Elsfield House block, which cost £415,000, were now sold and occupied.

She added: “Elsfield House is the first phase to be almost completed.

“And Linear Park, featuring a play area, is now open.”

She added that 25 two-bedroom apartments at Bexley House would be ready to move into by the end of the year, while one family is already living in a £575,000 three-bedroom townhouse in Bayswood Crescent.

Mosaics Oxford is a collection of one and two-bedroom bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom houses.

A range of apartments and houses for first-time buyers and families have been on the market, with some available through the support of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Barton and Sandhills city councillor Mike Rowley, who is also board member for housing, said he was delighted that the first residents have now moved in, with 40 per cent of the homes affordable housing.

He said: “The affordable homes are owned by Oxford City Homes, the city council’s housing company and let out at social rents. We are looking forward to new shops, a new football pavilion and pitches at Barton Park and Linear Park is an attractive green space along Bayswater Brook, linking Barton Park and the old estate, with exercise equipment and benches.”

Mr Rowley said a £3m package of improvements, including a £900,000 contribution from the developers, was being invested in an upgrade of Barton community centre, and improvements to homes on the old Barton estate.

The city councillor added: “The doctor’s surgery at the community centre is being expanded so that it can look after patients from the old and new estate.”

Mr Rowley said about 5,500 residents lived on the Barton estate while Barton Park was designed to accommodate about 2,500 residents.

He added: “I’m very pleased to see the first residents moving into their new homes at Barton Park and I look forward to meeting them.

“Of course we are a long way off completion and the last people are not expected to move in until 2022.”

The Mosaics Oxford website said: “Barton Park is a joint venture project that brings together Grosvenor and Oxford City Council.

“The partnership has combined the council’s land and vision for the new neighbourhood with Grosvenor’s expertise and funding capacity to deliver a model scheme with regeneration benefits for surrounding areas.”

It added that each Mosaics apartment featured rooms warmed by underfloor heating, stylish kitchens and boutique bathrooms.

It said: “Each of our apartments offers a generous amount of internal space along with easy access to vibrant communal areas.”