Plans to develop hundreds of homes, retail spaces and community facilities in the heart of Oxford's Blackbird Leys were given the go-ahead by Oxford Council.

The plans by housing association Peabody (formerly Catalyst) and development partner Oxford City Council include 294 homes across two sites.

A new district centre will include 210 homes, 83 percent (174 homes) of which will be for social or affordable rent and 17 percent (36 homes) for shared ownership. A further 84 houses for shared ownership will be built in Knights Road. The district centre is also set to provide new green spaces, shops and a community centre, as well as improved roads with a segregated cycle route.

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It will be a sustainable and eco-friendly neighbourhood. There are plans for a new central green space for natural informal play, a nature trail and a community space with residential roof terrace to help promote intergenerational living.

The redevelopment will take place in phases, with work set to begin on the first of the new homes and shops later this year. The community centre will also be delivered as part of the first phase, and Oxford City Council and Peabody are working with the community to develop detailed designs. It will be energy efficient and adaptable to support a wider range of community uses. More homes will follow in a second phase, expected to get underway in 2025.

The plans were first announced in April 2019. Since then, Peabody and the council have held a series of events, workshops and one-to-one conversations with residents and businesses to shape the design of the redevelopment.