A COUNCIL has paid millions to purchase green fields to build more houses.

Oxford City Council’s housing company, called Oxford City Housing Ltd (OCHL), acquired a plot of land on Meadow Lane, in Iffley Village, and Memorial Field, from Donnington Hospital Trust in November.

The two plots of land were sold together at a total cost of £4.5m, after being advertised in Gerald Eve LLP.

Read here: Campaigners fight plans for new houses on fields in Iffley

The plot of land at Meadow Lane was earmarked for development in the Oxford Local Plan 2036, whereas the Memorial Field plot will not be built on, instead being kept as an open space for the local community.

OCHL has now appointed Hill as a development partner for the new homes in Iffley.

The housing company intends to build at least 29 Passivhaus-standard homes at Meadow Lane.

Out of the new homes, the company says at least 12 will be council homes let at social rent, and three are expected to be shared ownership or on another affordable tenure.

OHCL hopes to begin its first round of public consultation for the plans at the Meadow Lane site this summer and are aiming to submit a planning application by the end of the year.

If planning permission is granted, construction work will begin in 2022.

Read also: Oxford City Council buys land on Iffley Fields for new houses

Michelle Thomas, Managing Director of OCHL, said: “I’m extremely pleased to announce that OCHL will be working with Hill again to develop the Meadow Lane site. We’ll begin public consultation on our plans over the summer and aim to start construction next year.”

Locals in Iffley Village have been fighting against plans for the development of the land between Church Way and Meadow Lane.

The campaign group, Friends of Iffley Fields, said that the new development would lead to congestion on the ‘narrow winding lanes’, and would affect the wildlife in the area.

Rob Hall, Deputy Managing Director for Hill, comments: “We are pleased to have been selected by Oxford City Housing Ltd as the development partner for this exciting project in Iffley. This project represents a unique opportunity for us to showcase our expertise in building Passivhaus-standard homes in a thriving Oxford suburb. The city is experiencing a great need for affordable homes and we look forward to developing detailed plans to provide new homes for the city which incorporate the very highest levels of sustainability.”