Oxford Builds Affordable Homes To Maintain Standing In Academe

Oxford University is investing £40m in a plan to build a new commuinity of 200 affordable homes on the edge of Oxford City. The project is expected to house 600 people, and be arranged around a village square in New Urbanist fashion. The development, according to a university spokesman, is the first such undertaking among UK universites.

The university's land agent said, "Oxford is determined to remain one of the world's greatest universities. But we find it difficult to accommodate staff in the Oxford housing market."

"The university now has considerable problems attracting staff from other areas of the UK and the rest of the world."

Rising home prices, partictularly in the southeastern UK, have made it more difficult for public institutions to attract new staff members.