Member Article

Catalyst to deliver 48 homes at Oxford’s Temple Cowley pools site

Catalyst housing association has been granted planning permission to build new homes in Oxford after the group was granted planning permission by the city council.

The development on the site of the former Temple Cowley pools will deliver 48 new homes, of which 50% will be affordable, including 19 social rent units and five shared ownership homes across three blocks of apartments and a collection of semi-detached and terraced properties.

Designed by Hester Architects, the new development will help the city meet demand for city centre housing and comes after London-headquartered Catalyst paid £3.6m to Oxford City Council to acquire the site back in December 2014.

As one of the leading housing associations in the South East and London, Catalyst counts over 1,400 homes in Oxford and a further 1,200 across Oxfordshire, and will reinvest all the profits made from the 24 houses on sale into further projects and developments.

Tom Titherington, Executive Director of Property & Growth at Catalyst commented: “I am delighted that our Temple Cowley scheme has been passed by Oxford City Council. Our development will deliver much needed new affordable housing to local people, in line with the Council’s housing policies.”

Malcom Hester, Chairman of Hester Architects said: “We have a long history of working with Catalyst and we are delighted that our Temple Cowley designs have been approved for planning. The design complements local surroundings and features high quality, landscaped open spaces that allow for spectacular views towards Oxford skyline.”

Construction on the site is expected to begin later this year.