Dreams of a new home come true at Hope House

Ten striking new homes for shared ownership in Leiden Road, Oxford have been officially opened.

The new development at Leiden Road also includes a purpose-built scheme of ten flats, providing supported housing for up to 15 people with a range of learning disability needs.

E G Carter & Co Ltd worked in partnership with Advance to build Hope House, and also in partnership with Sovereign Housing Association to provide shared ownership homes on the same estate.

Residents joined representatives for the official opening by Julie Layton, Chief Executive of Advance, on Monday 24 July 2017.

Julie Layton, Chief Executive of Advance, who cut the ribbon, said: “We are delighted to open this new supported housing development, which will not only provide comfortable housing for our current customers relocating from their previous home, but will also cater for people with more complex needs.

This is made possible by working with our partners to ensure that the development is future proof and built to `lifetime homes standards’.”

The new homes have been built on a brownfield site previously occupied by a derelict hostel which had been empty for a number of years.

Before any work could start, various ecological challenges had to be met as the former hostel had become a roost for bats, which had to be carefully removed.

Sovereign, who have partnered with E G Carter & Co Ltd on other developments, were able to work with the partnership and by investing £2.4 million into the project, including £350,000 capital grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, the homes for private sale were changed to shared ownership.

Ross Heriot, Regional Head of Development, Sovereign, said: “With a high demand for affordable housing in Oxford, this was a great opportunity to work with E G Carter & Co Ltd and Advance to help meet housing need in the City.

All ten of the affordable homes were sold shortly after completion, providing hope of home ownership to residents otherwise priced out of the housing market.”

The affordable homes, which are all for sale through shared ownership, comprise six two-bedroom flats, one three-bedroom flat and three three-bedroom houses and will be managed by Sovereign.

Phil Barnes, Regional Manager, E G Carter & Co Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have procured the purchase, design and construction of this impressive mixed tenure project on behalf of two of our long standing clients.”

A Resident at Hope House said “Living here is like having a family, everyone is friendly and it’s so much better than where I was before.”