Future Housing
Future Housing
There's been a fall in the rate of housing construction in Oxfordshire since the late 1990s.
With this fall in supply of housing but an increasing demand, prices are continuously rising.
The average Oxfordshire house price increased by an amazing 96% from 1999 to 2004. Only 18% of the dwellings built in Oxfordshire between 1996 to 2002 were classed as affordable.
The price of an average semi-detached house in Oxfordshire increased from around:
- four times the average wage in 1995 to
- seven times the average wage in 2002.
The national average ratio meanwhile increased to five times the average wage.
New Homes
There are currently proposals for 8,500 new homes within South Oxfordshire by 2016, with 5055 of these being built by 2011.
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/
Future Growth of Didcot
Didcot, with its excellent rail links, is one of the towns where housing expansion will be concentrated. There are plans for houses to be built to the west of Didcot to meet some of the demand over the next ten years.
Didcot Population Growth
The population of Didcot could rise well above 32,000 by 2011. It could increase to about 45,000 if, in addition to the development already planned, a further 3,000 - 4,000 houses were built between 2016 - 2030.
Where will the new housing be located? What kind of houses are planned?
Planners expect that:
- 55% of new Oxfordshire homes should be on previously developed land rather than greenfield sites.
- At least 50% should be affordable housing.
- Average density should be at least 30 dwellings per hectare, reaching 50 in areas of good public transport. (The average density of Oxfordshire properties built in recent years has been just 25 per hectare).
How Can New Housing Be Made More Sustainable?
New housing projects offer an opportunity to introduce a full range of energy, water and waste saving measures that can give financial payback over the life of a property.
Current research indicates that a 25% improvement in resource efficiency has a maximum extra capital cost of £800 per home.
These improvements deliver savings to residents through reduced utility bills of approximately £138 a year.
From 2005 speech by Elliot Morley, Govt. Minister for Climate Change and Environment.
