"INNOVATIVE" solutions used in London and Cambridge should be deployed to tackle the housing crisis gripping Oxford, it has been claimed.

Andrew Gant, the new leader of the Liberal Democrats on Oxford City Council, said more needed to be done to help young professionals who were vital to the economy to get on the property ladder.

But he said "restrictive" local planning rules were blocking ideas such as so-called 'smart' homes proposed in Cowley.

His comments come as the developers behind that scheme today launch a public exhibition running until Saturday, in a bid to persuade local people to support them.

The city council said it was "already delivering solutions", such as the 880-home Barton Park estate, the redevelopment of the Oxpens with Nuffield College and building more council housing.

Oxford Mail:

  • Oxford Smart Housing has proposed the first 70 'smart' homes in the city. They would be sold to young people at below-market rates.

But Mr Gant said: "The key is flexibility and variety. There is so much innovation being done out there.

"The basic problem is demand outstrips supply, so the people getting pushed out are young professionals in the first steps of their career.

"It is OK if you're a student in an HMO [house in multiple occupation], or if you are more progressed in your career and can afford Oxford.

"But if you are a teacher trying to live in the city, for instance, and you feel too old for HMOs, where do you go?"

He said the city council needed to review its affordable housing policy. At present, it demands half of homes in all developments are 'affordable', or socially-rented.

Mr Gant called for the definition of affordable should be changed – something Oxford University has called for – to include homes for key workers in the city, such as teachers, emergency service workers and staff from Oxford's universities.

Mr Gant added: "This has been done in Cambridge. And it has allowed them to build 3,000 new homes, as well as deliver other benefits like community centres and schools."

Meanwhile, he said, there was no reason why Oxford could not consider 'pocket homes' being championed by developers in London.

"These are not cheap, pre-fabricated homes. They are quality pieces of architecture that build communities."

Oxford Mail:

'SMART' HOMES EXHIBITION

THE first 70 ‘smart’ homesin Oxford have been proposed for thesports ground off WilliamMorris Close.

According to developer Oxford Smart Housing they would besold at 20 percent below market rateto first-time buyers.

Each home would be about 50 sq m in size, “beautifully” designed and sell for upwards of £160,000.

An exhibition of the plans will be held at Tyndale Community School from 6pm to 8pm today and tomorrow, as well as from 10am to 12pm on Saturday. Visit oxfordsmarthousing.com

Oxford Smart Housing director Patrick McDonald said: "This is a real chance to make a difference to Oxford's housing crisis. We hope people will be excited by these plans."

David Edwards, the city council's top planning official, said the local authority was "open to debate and discussion" but added: "You cannot deliver creative solutions and greater variety for housing without the necessary land.

"The Cambridge approach is based on the release of land from the Green Belt.

"The city council has been clear that a limited redrawing of the Oxford Green Belt is required to allow sustainable urban extensions to the city."