Andrew Gant

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Oxford City Council

OXFORD City Council leader Susan Brown claims that Labour in Oxford are the party of housing delivery. Official Government figures tell a different story.

In the two years to mid-2018, the total number of local authority units built in Oxford was zero. Overall completions, including market housing, were 350.

Neighbouring Vale of White Horse built at almost six times the rate, with over 2,000 completions. All other districts in our region are way ahead of Oxford in all types of housing.

Of course there are geographical and other factors which affect delivery within the city. But the fact is that, after a decade in charge, Labour’s policies are simply not working.

Liberal Democrats have consistently argued that the emphasis on employment gets the balance wrong: the Westgate development delivered no social housing at all. There is scope to provide housing on sites currently reserved by the city for employment across our city.

The city council sets an ambitious target of 50 per cent ‘affordable’ housing on larger sites. The aim of this is absolutely right, and we fully support the aspiration. But we have to look at the results: evidence suggests that nearby authorities with a lower target actually achieve a higher percentage in practice. Liberal Democrats will look at innovative approaches taken elsewhere around mix of dwellings, types of build and tenure, and homes for key workers. The Labour model simply does not deliver enough of the kinds of homes our city needs.

Employment needs to be geared towards helping our world-leading high-tech and research sector to grow and compete, as has been achieved in Cambridge; not simply building more offices with massive car parks. Infrastructure must come before expansion, not as an afterthought or excuse not to pay for affordable housing.

Green infrastructure is good for physical and mental health. It is certainly right to review the boundaries and function of Oxford’s Green Belt, and to be prepared to adjust them where evidence genuinely supports that. But the reasons for having a Green Belt remain valid.

Government policy has repeatedly stressed its permanence. Liberal Democrats insist on safeguarding those principles: no urban sprawl, no coalescence, good access to a healthy environment.

Where a development comes forward which preserves those principles, and delivers the right kinds of housing in the right places with genuinely sustainable infrastructure, we will support it.

Labour, by contrast, have declared open season on what Councillor Brown refers to as “the so-called Green Belt”. This is not a happy insight into their vision for the future of our city.

The wider growth agenda needs to be managed carefully, responsibly, and with proper public engagement. The Growth Board has signed up to the principle of the Expressway (another example, incidentally, of Labour in the City taking an opposite position to their party colleagues on the County – which policy do Labour voters think they’re getting?).

Liberal Democrats around the county don’t think the case has been made. We demand a more robust evidence base, more emphasis on rail, and more consultation.

Liberal Democrats are fully committed to finding genuine solutions to a range of complex and serious challenges in our housing market. Addressing the housing crisis is a key theme running through our policy nationally.

As a party we have a strong record of delivery in councils around the country. Liberal Democrats initiated large-scale and forward-looking housebuilding schemes when we ran the city council. We will do so again.