Hab Oakus, in conjunction with Glenn Howells Architects, has been appointed to build 109 new homes and community services in Oxford.

The multi-million pound development will create 109 new homes and two community centres across three sites owned by Oxford City Council – Westlands Drive and Dora Carr Close in Northway, and Barns Road in Cowley.

The new homes are to be low cost rent or shared ownership, with a mix of one, two, three and four-bed family houses. The houses will showcase Hab Oakus’ ethos of sustainable living that are environmentally friendly to build and run.

Hab Oakus is a joint venture between Grand Design presenter Kevin McCloud’s company Hab and housing group GreenSquare. Hab Oakus will be working with a number of people and organisations as part of the Oxford project, including:-

• architects Alford Hall of Monaghan Morris;
• Emmaus, an organisation that offers homeless people a home and work, and;
• the local community, through a series of public consultation events.

Following the first public consultation on the scheme, councillor Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council said: “We are keen for local residents in these communities to help us in developing and shaping the plans for these very important sites. We are aiming to build some very attractive and well-designed homes that meet our very high environmental standards.”

Planning application is to be submitted by the end of the year, with a view to begin building works in 2012, and completion in 2015.