In Oxford, social rent is normally 40 per cent of equivalent private rents. Shared ownership allows for residents to get a foot on the property ladder by buying a stake in their homes that they otherwise would not be able to afford. The new estate’s properties, set to be ready by spring 2023, will range in size from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses. Cantay also said the new estate would be environmentally-friendly, using sustainable materials and integration of renewable technologies. The new homes will be positioned close to a good bus service, the developer said, and it also pointed to plans to re-open the Cowley branch line to passenger services at some point in the future, which could potentially benefit new residents – if it happens.