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Construction set to begin on hundreds of homes for Oxford 🎉đźŹ
Work will soon begin to construct hundreds of affordable homes, retail spaces and community facilities across Blackbird Leys.
Central to the redevelopment is a new district centre, which will house 210 new homes. Out of these, 83% (174 homes) will be for social and affordable rent, while the remaining 17% (36 homes) will be available for shared ownership.
Additionally, there will be 84 shared-ownership homes constructed off Knights Road.
But the scope of this project goes beyond just providing homes. The new district centre will be a hub of community activity, featuring lush green spaces, a variety of shops, and a state-of-the-art community centre, all designed to enhance the living experience in Blackbird Leys.
The plans, by housing association Peabody (formerly Catalyst) and development partner Oxford City Council, were approved in August following over four years of engagement with the Blackbird Leys community and more than 1,500 pieces of feedback from local residents and stakeholders.
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Oxford launches all-electric bus fleet!
This week, Oxford launched what will become one of the biggest UK fleets of electric buses outside London! 🤩🚌
The £82.5m project will see 159 state-of-the-art battery buses take to the streets of Oxford – the first of which have already gone into service. 🎉
Oxford Bus Company will deliver 104 electric buses and Stagecoach 55. The project is funded via a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council and the bus companies.
Oxford Bus Company has installed 104 charging points at its Cowley House depot, with Stagecoach installing 55 chargers at the Network Oxford site. The chargers are powered by EDF Energy's Oxford Super hub network.
Wondering how to keep warmer this winter? ❄️ Our Home Upgrade Grant could be the answer
Oxford residents whose homes are not heated by mains gas are being encouraged to apply for the Home Upgrade Grant.
The new funding aims to help homes that do not use gas as their main source of heating to install free energy efficiency measures, including insulation, solar panels and air-source heat pumps.
The City Council secured ÂŁ1m of government funding to support the grants.
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Cowley branch line study commissioned
We have commissioned SLC Rail to carry out an Infrastructure Place Study for the Cowley Branch Line.
The study will explore local movement and connectivity, and whether additional infrastructure requirements are needed to help ensure the rail scheme integrates with the existing community.
This commission is a segment of a broader ÂŁ4.5m initiative aimed at reintroducing passenger services on the Cowley Branch Line.
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Support for residents this winter amidst the cost-of-living crisis
January can be a challenging time for many, and this year these challenges are amplified by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Please remember, if you're finding things tough, support is available – you don't have to face this alone. In Oxford, there is a range of assistance on offer, from help with accessing grants and debt advice to ensuring you’re getting all the financial support you’re eligible for.
Additionally, there are services providing warm spaces, as well as free or low-cost food options throughout the city. if you're looking to improve your home's energy efficiency for increased warmth and cost savings, resources and guidance are accessible right here in Oxford.Â
Find more about services available by clicking the cost-of-living support button below.
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Flooding update: advice for wild swimmers
The results of water testing at Hinksey Lake have revealed the recent flooding and run-off have increased contamination, including an increase in the level of E coli.Â
There will likely be similarly increased levels of contamination in many areas of the river and other open-water bodies.
We strongly advise against wild swimming 🏊‍♀️ at this time given the enhanced water quality risks and swollen river conditions.
Consultations
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Smoke control Area
We have opened a public consultation on plans to expand our longstanding Smoke Control Areas to cover the whole city.
The plan would replace the current patchwork of 23Â Smoke Control Areas covering about 48% of Oxford with a single Smoke Control Area for the whole city.
This consultation will close on 31 January 2024.
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Free education for eligible working families of two- year-olds 🎉
From April this year, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to get 15 hours per week of funded childcare.Â
To access it, parents will need to apply for a code and check with their childcare provider that this is something they’re offering.
If you pay for childcare and want to use Tax-Free Childcare to get help with costs, you can also apply using this service.
If you are applying for free childcare and someone else already claims Tax-Free Childcare for that child, your application will be unsuccessful.
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Holocaust Memorial Day to be marked next week
Oxford will mark Holocaust Memorial Day next week with an in-person service at Oxford Town Hall.
The service of reflection will take place at 11am on Friday 26 January 2024 in the Assembly Room. It is open to people of any faith and none.
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The Budget 2024/25 Consultation ✨
The financial situation for local authorities right now is challenging. The cost of living is increasing pressure on services, and we need to support growing numbers of families falling into homelessness.
Despite this, we are investing million of pounds every year to provide public services that you, your family and friends use every day.
We would like to hear your views on our draft 2024/25 budget and get a deeper understanding of your priorities, needs and aspirations in relation to our services and your community.Â
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Stay Connected:
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@OxfordCityCouncil
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@OxfordCity
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@oxfordcitycouncil
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