Oxford’s housing shortage really is becoming a “dire situation.” It is something we hear time and time again.

We are no strangers to the fact that our city is facing a ticking timebomb – which is why it is worrying that no new affordable homes were built last year at all.

Among all the jargon about housing targets and dry planning documents, the heart of the problem can often be overlooked.

In the middle of every report and survey lie born and bred Oxford families struggling to find themselves a place to call home.

Let us hope as they strive to tackle the problem, those in the halls of power do not forget that.