THERE have been many letters in the Oxford Mail about the proposed Botley development.
Most of them have been broadly against the overall size of the proposals and some people have asked why a large block of student accommodation is included at all.
I suspect that Doric has no interest in the provision of student accommodation as such but it is the case that any developer proposing to build student accommodation will attract more funding from investors.
The proposed West Way redevelopment
Quite simply, investors want a return on their investment and while student accommodation would produce a return of about 10 per cent, retail and leisure space would attract lower returns. It is also the case that student accommodation, unlike large general housing developments, do not require an element of affordable housing, which would also reduce the return on the investment.
Surely Doric and their associates cannot be in it just for the money!
LEN PORTER
London Road
Headington
Oxford
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