Oxford City Council has marked the official opening of Fishers Vale, a fully affordable 40-home development in Old Marston, Oxford, with a ribbon-cutting attended by councillors including Linda Smith, executive member for housing and communities. With the first 50% of homes already handed over, the milestone signals the phased completion of new housing on a previously disused paddock site.

The scheme comprises 26 houses and 14 flats arranged around a central green, combining 21 council homes for social rent with 19 shared ownership homes. Social rent levels mean council tenants typically pay around 40% of the equivalent private rent, while shared ownership provides a route onto the ladder in one of the UK's most unaffordable cities — a tenure mix reflecting broader sector efforts to boost access to affordable homes nationwide.

Designed to be all-electric, the homes have been engineered to cut energy bills and exceed national carbon reduction targets by around 56% through enhanced insulation, airtightness, high-performance windows and air source heat pumps. Each property benefits from private outdoor amenity (gardens, terraces or balconies), alongside secure cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points, aligning with the industry's drive for low-carbon, future-ready residential infrastructure.

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Delivery was led by OX Place, Oxford City Council's wholly owned housing company, working with Lucy Developments. The project demonstrates the use of council-led delivery vehicles and partnership models to unlock underused land and accelerate affordable housing supply — an approach being adopted by local authorities across the UK.

Councillor Linda Smith, Oxford City Council, said: "Today we celebrate the opening of Fishers Vale, a development that brings much-needed, genuinely affordable, homes to our city. This is a proud moment for a project that shows what's possible when we transform underused land into sustainable new places for residents to put down roots. Housing need in Oxford has never been greater and delivering new council houses and flats like these to families on our housing register is our top priority. To those new residents moving in soon, welcome home!"

Roger Thompson, Chief Executive of OX Place, also said: "OX Place is proud to have worked with Lucy Developments and the Council to deliver a truly special new community in Fishers Vale. This partnership has created a range of low carbon, high quality, new homes that demonstrate what's possible when we build with people and the planet in mind."

Greg Hilton, Head of Lucy Developments, added: "Fisher's Vale demonstrates what's possible when partners share a clear vision to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes for local people. We're proud to have worked with OX Place to create a development that not only meets housing needs but also provides a welcoming environment where residents can build their futures."

For the construction supply chain, Fishers Vale underscores continued demand for fabric-first, heat pump-led residential specifications and EV-ready infrastructure in local authority-led programmes, as councils seek scalable models to deliver affordable, low-carbon homes at pace.