Spencer Court is made up of 19 fully furnished flats that will house 91 hospital staff, with the first group of NHS workers currently moving in. Each flat contains either three or five en-suite bedrooms, and a central living and kitchen area with modern furniture. Six accessible rooms are also included as part of the 91 new homes.
Spencer Court has been created to provide NHS staff with more affordable rents and help with the recruitment and retention of staff. The flats have added to the overall amount of staff accommodation in the area and are in easy walking distance of the hospital. This is part of a wider project to deliver more affordable homes for Oxford University Hospital staff.
A2Dominion has delivered the scheme in partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Hospitals Charity and Exel Construction.
What Heide Servano, a current tenant, had to say
“I have just moved into Spencer Court and really love it. I work on the Cardiology Ward, so it is great to come home to this relaxing and comfortable space, it makes a big difference. The flats are so well-designed and have everything I need in them: built-in furniture, an en-suite bathroom, and a lovely communal space. I’ve stayed in other staff accommodation, and this is definitely much more modern and comfortable. I am very happy that I have had the opportunity to move in.”
What the partners had to say
Steven Waite, Director of Technical & Commercial at A2Dominion, said: “We are so proud to be able to formally celebrate this important milestone with our partners Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Hospitals Charity and Exel construction.
“Spencer Court provides high-quality and modern accommodation, fitting for the essential work carried out by our remarkable key workers at the Trust. A2Dominion has a proven track record in Oxfordshire and plans are already ongoing to deliver even more affordable accommodation for OUH staff.”
Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, Chair of Oxford University Hospitals, said: “The partnership between OUH, Oxford Hospitals Charity and A2Dominion is vital in providing homes for our new staff with affordable rents and the opportunity to settle into the area. I am so pleased that we have been able to modernise our on-site accommodation and increase the number of homes we are able to offer our staff.
“For new staff coming to Oxford for the first time, finding good quality, low rental housing within walking distance of the Oxford hospitals is daunting. That is why our on-site accommodation is so important. It gives our new staff the time and safe space to save for a deposit, get to know the area and find flatmates to share with in the future.”
Professor David Matthews, Chair of Oxford Hospitals Charity, added: “This is an extremely important project for all involved, so it is wonderful to be here today to see the quality of this splendid new building and hear the positive reaction from those moving in. Everyone living in Oxfordshire knows that the lack of affordable housing is a cause of major concern, so our charity is delighted with this collaboration to support the accommodation needs of vital NHS staff.”