FRESH plans have been unveiled to regenerate key areas of an Oxford community.

The site of the old Rose Hill Community Centre, as well as the disused Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre, could be transformed into much-needed housing.

Oxford City Council wants to build 40 homes across the two sites, in The Oval and Ashhurst Way respectively, after their services were relocated to the striking new community centre in Carole's Way last year.

The council will lead the project itself through its own housing company, and is also investigating redeveloping the empty scout hut in Ashhurst Way.

Ed Turner, city councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley and deputy leader of the council, said: "Developing the sites ourselves means it's wholly owned by the council so money can be ploughed back into local services, and we have more control over development."

He hoped the scheme would boast a design 'we can be proud of', energy efficiency and suitable parking.

Alan Wylde, housing development and enabling manager at the council, revealed the plans at a Rose Hill Tenants' and Residents' Association meeting last week.

After being quizzed bout design and parking provision, he said: "I don't want to set hares running. This is in the very early stages.

"I'd like to be going into planning early next year and we hope to start building on site towards the latter part of next year."

He stressed residents would be consulted on design in the coming months.

Residents at the meeting plugged the importance of affordable housing, noting the price of homes in newly-built Barton Park.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Mr Turner said: "It's really important to maximise the amount of genuinely affordable housing [with the Rose Hill development], principally social rent.

"We all know about the housing crisis in Oxford; I have constituents, friends and neighbours bearing the brunt of it every day.

"I suspect it won't be 100 per cent affordable housing, but we want as much as we can."

Rose Hill resident Peter Wilkinson reminded people at the meeting of earlier plans to build 24 homes in place of the old community centre, adding: "We have been here before."

They were displayed by the city council in 2015 but not taken forward.

Mr Wylde admitted it was 'a shame' the plans were not taken forward at the time, but said they would help to inform architects this time around.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Turner added: "They were indicative plans, they were never really consulted on. Time moves on."

He reassured residents that the redevelopment of those sites in Rose Hill would not be forgotten, adding: "Clearly we don't want boarded-up offices or vacant plots fenced-off. It's important we crack on, but equally we need to make sure the design is right."