Crime & Safety
230 homes approved in Oxford for former ‘super dump’ site
Plans for the affordable housing development and new ‘riverside neighbourhood’ at Redbridge Paddock, next to Redbridge Park and Ride off Abingdon Road, was approved at the city council cabinet meeting on Wednesday (March 18).
Described as a former landfill and brownfield site, the 8.9-acre field by Weirs Mill Stream was once described as a ‘super dump’ in February 2017, caused by unknown fly-tippers who cost taxpayers thousands in a major clean-up operation.
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The site’s historic use as a landfill in the 1960s and 1970s, with operations ceasing in 1972, remains a major constraint of the new scheme.
Major resources will have to be deployed for ‘significant remediation’ and ‘contamination enabling works’ which will identify and remove hazardous materials before housebuilding can start.
Dave Scholes, the council’s corporate lead on affordable housing supply, said at the meeting that because of the contamination works, the scheme is only ‘viable’ with grant funding.
Mr Scholes said: “It’s a viable scheme if we can pull in public subsidy to help with the contamination works. Without that, it doesn’t stack up as a scheme we can move forward at the moment.”
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A grant will be applied for from the Government’s National Housing Delivery Fund, a pot of £5billion in capital grant funding for infrastructure and land, to be available from April this year.
The council officer that Homes England have been ‘very positive’ on the plans for the site and they’re engaged in discussions on the business case.
If all goes to plan, an initial hybrid application will be brought forward later this year, with housebuilding expected to start in 2029 and handovers to new residents from 2031 onwards.
Councillor Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing and communities, said the Redbridge Paddock project, along with the scheme for 330 affordable homes at Sandy Lane which was discussed at the same meeting, are “real gamechangers”.
She said that although private developers contributions and housing associations are “an important part of the equation, it’s not the whole picture”.
“We’re going much further and doing everything we can and actually building council homes using our wholly owned development company OX Place,” Cllr Smith added. “These two reports tonight are a key part of that plan.”
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Of the total 237 homes to be built on the brownfield site, 118 will be affordable homes, split into 93 for social rent and 25 for shared ownership.
The development will be brought forward by OX Place, the council-owned development company, and more than 860 people are expected to have their housing improved in the scheme.
It will include new landscaped areas and communal spaces, a ‘safe streets’ approach, a cycle route and proposals are being ‘explored’ for riverside moorings.
Cherwell District Council is working alongside Banbury Town Council and the Quays Consortium to prepare a formal expression of interest for the new national competition, which aims to celebrate the cultural and heritage contributions of towns across the country.
David Hingley, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “I’m proud to confirm that alongside our partners we will be submitting an expression of interest for Banbury to be recognised as the UK Town of Culture 2028.
“This competition is our opportunity to show the rich, diverse and historic heritage that makes Banbury so special and unique, and to leave a lasting legacy for the future.
“From our outdoor market, thriving community initiatives, popular festivals, grassroots arts and wellbeing projects, to youth sporting programmes, culture is already at the heart of Banbury, and this bid will help us shine a spotlight on the town, its people and its stories.”
The UK Town of Culture 2028 winner will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month programme of cultural events and activities.
Banbury’s expression of interest will showcase its distinct identity and outline how the programme could broaden resident engagement, increase access to arts and heritage, and involve communities in shaping the design and legacy of the programme.
The council is engaging with partners such as Banbury Museum, The Mill Arts Centre, cultural organisations, businesses, and community groups to strengthen the bid and realise the town’s cultural ambitions.
Helen & Douglas House, which cares for terminally ill children and their families, launched its revamped clothing store on March 12.
The updated shop was opened by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Adam Ball and joins the charity’s refurbished homeware shop, which reopened last September and occupies the other half of the unit.
Baljit Dhindsa, head of retail at Helen & Douglas House, said: “We are delighted to unveil the refurbished space, which has been thoughtfully redesigned to create a brighter, more modern shopping environment while continuing our commitment to sustainability.
“The new layout allows us to showcase an even wider selection of clothing and accessories, with improved displays and more space on the shop floor.
“We have also enhanced accessibility within the shop, including adding an additional accessible fitting room to ensure a comfortable experience for all our customers.”
The reimagined boutique-style shop features a contemporary, urban-inspired design with vintage touches and improved backroom facilities, allowing for increased donations and more efficient sorting.
Proceeds from the store directly support Helen & Douglas House’s hospice care in Oxford and in people’s homes.
Ms Dhindsa said: “When you buy something from our shop for £5, this could pay for arts and crafts materials for local terminally ill children to make Mother’s Day cards whilst staying at the hospice in Oxford.
“Our spring collection is now in store so do pop in to checkout our great range of clothing and accessories and take a look at the wonderful transformation of our shop.”
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
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