A MINISTER at a Cowley church has said more affordable housing is needed in the area to prevent poor families being priced out of the city.

The Rev Beth Allison-Glenny, of John Bunyan Baptist Church, said she sees families struggling with high rents and would welcome developers bringing low-cost housing to Cowley.

It comes after NewRiver Retail revealed plans to revamp Templars Square Shopping Centre, including demolishing the 470-space Castle car park to make way for 98 flats opposite the church. It is not yet known how many would be classed as affordable.

Mrs Allison-Glenny said: “As a minister, it’s always really difficult when you see the reality of people’s lives and how rent hikes change the way people can afford to live or not.

“Affordable housing is a real issue in the whole of Oxford. Many of my congregation really struggle to afford to live here.”

NewRiver Retail unveiled its scheme to transform the shopping centre at a public exhibition on July 30.

Proposals also include refurbishing the Barns Road and Knights Road car parks, refurbishing entrances and creating pedestrian walkways across Between Towns Road to connect with Templars Shopping Park.

NewRiver Retail bought the former Nelson pub about three months ago and hopes to transform it into a hotel with an additional housing block.

Mrs Allison-Glenny joined the Crowell Road church last November as co-minister but took over the reins from former minister James Grote, who left earlier this month.

She said she welcomes investment in Cowley but hopes developers will consult with the community about their plans.

Mrs Allison-Glenny, who lives in Marston, added: “I think the shopping centre and that area needs redeveloping. Some of those original provisions need updating. I think it would be difficult to stand against a project that brings in affordable housing.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted to Oxford City Council later this year.

A spokesman for NewRiver Retail said: “We are in the process of working up draft plans for the regeneration of Templars Square which include affordable homes and these will be the subject of further public consultation.”