Celebrating the regeneration of affordable homes in Chipping Norton

We recently joined with housing partners, councillors and the local MP to celebrate the regeneration of an affordable housing scheme in Chipping Norton – named Magpie Court, after the town’s football club.

The event on Friday 1 August marked the successful completion of 12 new homes for social rent, on the site of a former outdated 1950s housing scheme.

Based in Hailey Avenue, on the southern edge of the town, the scheme was formerly known as Bliss, Brassey and Wilkins Houses. We were already planning to redevelop the scheme when significant damage was caused to the building during a fire (caused by arson) in 2020 – leading us to expediate our plans.

Working with Housing Association Cottsway Housing and supported by a £1.32m grant from Homes England, we demolished the 20 small apartments and built in their place 12 new modern, more spacious homes

The scheme has been named Magpie Court after Chipping Norton Town FC, based nearby and known as ‘The Magpies’.

The new scheme includes 4 houses, 2 maisonettes, and 6 apartments. All have solar panels, air-source heating and electric vehicle charging points are installed in the car park for residents’ use. A 30-year biodiversity management plan is in place to help protect the local wildlife.

While celebrating completion of the scheme, we took the opportunity to unveil a commemorative bench installed in the development’s communal garden. This is in memory of Cottsway former Chief Executive Vivian Rosser, who sadly passed away in 2022 following a short illness. Viv joined Cottsway as CEO in 2015 and was instrumental in plans to redevelop this scheme and further grow our development of new homes, to support more people in housing need.

Viv’s successor Richard Reynolds gave a short speech along with Luke Dicks, Contracts Manager for E G Carter & Co Ltd, Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury, and Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council. They were joined by parties involved in the redevelopment, Chipping Norton Town Mayor Sandra Coleman and other representatives from the District Council and Cottsway, as well as members of Viv’s family.

Richard said: “Everything we do is motivated by the needs of our customers and what we have created here is not only about providing better-quality, modern housing. These new homes have considerably larger living space and energy-efficiency measures, which will hopefully support customers with their bills.

“Our new customers will be moving in shortly, and we hope they settle in and enjoy their new homes. I know that Viv would have been proud to see this regeneration and especially pleased that all of the new homes are for social rent. I’d like to thank Homes England for supporting us with a grant, enabling us to bring this to fruition.”

Mathew Vye, Residential Director for E G Carter & Co Ltd, added: " We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Cottsway on another affordable and sustainable housing scheme. Transforming a disused site into much-needed homes is incredibly rewarding – especially in areas where the demand for affordable housing is so high. It’s great to see the positive impact this development is already making in the local community."