4.4 Housing

Housing is an essential part of the infrastructure needed to support the County's economy, as well as a critical component delivering the Government’s Sustainable Communities agenda. Even by accelerating the rate of productivity growth and reducing economic inactivity to meet targets, there are still not enough houses to support the economy in Oxfordshire and, indeed, most of the South East.

The need for more affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues in the County. Housing prices are a major factor contributing to recruitment difficulties in Oxfordshire, particularly in sectors with relatively low wages, such as nursing, teaching and public transport. Between 1999 and 2005 average house prices in Oxfordshire have increased by 88%, whilst average annual earnings have increased by 33%.

These are major factors threatening the sustainability of prosperity in Oxfordshire, and there is a need for a co-ordination of information in order to establish the long-term effects of housing shortages on Oxfordshire’s economy. Once a baseline has been established, stronger grounds for lobbying and extra funding can be developed. This information will also support the work of local planning teams, struggling to encourage local communities to embrace new development.

Housing is seen as a key issue on a local and regional level. The Oxfordshire Community Partnership has identified housing as one of its top priorities, and the Regional Housing Board provides strategic direction for housing policy and co-ordination of housing investment in the South East. The Regional Housing Strategy has the following regional priorities:

• Build more affordable homes.
• Bring decent housing into the reach of people on lower incomes.
• Improve the quality of new housing and of the existing stock.

Whilst Government funding can contribute to the supply of affordable housing, the role of the private sector is increasingly significant in delivering this. Innovative approaches to housing delivery across all sectors are needed, including exploring options such as community-owned solutions - for example, Public Finance Initiative community land trusts, grant-free models that can be used by major employers and registered social landlords, and identifying land held by public sector agencies that could be used for housing their own staff.

All new housing developments must be supported by adequate social, economic and environmental infrastructure by meeting the highest standards of sustainable and technical design, such as the efficient use of energy and water, and the installation of broadband. They should also be sited to ensure the best connectivity with the transport infrastructure, amenities and employment centres.

The efficient use of previouslydeveloped sites is well-established, and this must be maintained, particularly in town centres. Land assembly initiatives using surplus public land and smaller sites in urban areas must continue to be progressed, whilst issues of empty houses and density of housing developments, particularly within the urban environment, need to be addressed.