News May 2005
Rose Hill housing redevelopment
The City Council and Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA) have been working for some time on a major redevelopment scheme for Rose Hill. It is now gathering pace.
The scheme will knock down 103 Orlit houses, 33 flats at Stephenfield House (already demolished) and 20 flats at Alice and Margaret House. They will be replaced with 237 new homes. Half will be affordable rented houses, half will be houses for outright sale and flats for shared ownership.
In January 2005 the Council and OCHA held an exhibition attended by half the people in Orlit or Alice and Margaret Houses. A Development Group of the tenants has been set up. A Rose Hill Regeneration Partnership has also been established, based on the results of a ‘Planning for Real’ exercise held three years ago. A ‘steering group’ is being formed.
Rose Hill is clearly in urgent need of regeneration. However, a total of 156 rented homes will be replaced with about 120; a loss of at least 36 affordable rented homes, despite the desperate shortage in Oxford. Private property development will, for the first time, become an important part of housing on Rose Hill. As yet there appear to be no commitments to new community facilities, such as a building to house the Advice Centre or health service provision.
The City Council and OCHA are appealing for people who live on Rose Hill to get involved.
Contact:
Development Programme and Tenants Development Group:
Oxford City Council
Neighbourhood Renewal Team
St Aldates Chambers
Stuart Moran, telephone 252428
Rose Hill Regeneration Partnership:
Oxford Citizens Housing Association
244 Barns Road
Oxford OX4 3RW
Paula Haslam, telephone 782507
Source: Rose Hill Housing Redevelopment News, Spring 2005
