RESIDENTS and councillors have welcomed the city council’s plans to spend an extra £96m on housing in the next decade.

Council tenant Les Godwin, who lives in Atkyns Court, Wood Farm, said he was glad to see the investment but was concerned about the rise in rent and council tax.

The 67-year-old said: “I think it is something they should do; they should build more houses because there are a lot of people who could do with them. I think it is a good priority, despite the cuts.

“We always hear there are homeless people, so I think they should help them. But I think if they are going to do the rent rise, they have to look after the properties more to make sure they are up to standard.”

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Blackbird Leys is set to receive £10.3m of the funding to build 230 affordable new homes and a community hub.

Linda Smith, city councillor for the estate, said: “It is really good news, I think it has always been clear that Blackbird Leys is one of our priority areas.

“One of the things I was struck by during the election campaign was the number of grown-up children living in homes with their parents.

“They want to stay in Blackbird Leys because they like the area and this will help them.”

Last week, Barton and Sandhill councillor Van Coulter called for the Barton estate not to be forgotten by the developers that are building hundreds of new homes nearby.

He said the new funding would benefit the people of the existing estate.

He said: “I am thankful that there is a significant amount of money to be put into the estate. The council officers have worked really hard to address things.”


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