HOUSEHOLDERS shared their concerns about a £100 million redevelopment of their Oxford estate in an online community forum.

Loss of football fields, the growing number of private homes and the need for wheelchair friendly homes were the top issues.

Oxford City Council and its development partner Catalyst, ran a series of web meetings last week, inviting the people of Blackbird Leys to comment on the new plans.

Mohammed Haque, head of delivery at Catalyst said a planning application would be submitted in the spring, with development taking 18 months to two years to complete.

One resident questioned what would happen to people living in flats above shops in the district centre,which will be removed as part of the regeneration. They asked whether occupants would have access to new accommodation first.

Project manager Andrew Humpherson said the number of people needing rehousing had been reduced by a ‘scaling back’ of the regeneration of the centre, with an existing block of flats in good condition being retained.

He said: “We now have a much smaller number of people who need to be rehoused. It is about 11.

“The council tenants will have two choices: they can stay as council tenants, or the other option is they can become a Catalyst tenant. But that is something they can discuss.”

Other local people raised concerns about how many homes would be privately sold at the site on Knights Road.

A spokesman for Catalyst said the Knights Road site would be developed with 84 homes – 74 to go on sale and 10 for shared ownership.

He said: “Why this site is predominantly market sale and shared ownership, is to help create subsidies for the improvement of the district centre. We are looking at delivering 50 per cent affordable housing, but on Knights Road it is predominantly market sale and shared ownership.”

Some residents were concerned at the loss of a full-sized football pitch. They were told provisions were being considered to build a ‘bridge across to Fry’s Hill Park to reach its all-weather surface and open space.

Catalyst also assured locals that an ecological survey would take place in the spring when it becomes ‘ecological survey season’.

Read here: Blackbird Leys housing plans 'would destroy Spindleberry park area'

Other local people had concerns about the number of disability-friendly flats and houses, and particularly raised questions about parking spaces.

Gavin McGillivray, an associate at architectural company, JTP, said that the policy for the minimum provision for disability designated flats and houses was five per cent of the development. He said if there is a larger local need it will be addressed but added that most of the houses would be accessible for those with wheelchairs or accessibility problems.

Read here: City council buys green fields to build houses

The Catalyst spokesperson said: “We’re very grateful to everyone that has taken the time to attend and ask questions at the webinars held to discuss proposals for the regeneration of Blackbird Leys."

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