Barton West plan 'good value' (From The Oxford Times)

Barton West plan 'good value'

1:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News

OXFORD City Council’s partnership to build Barton West has been good value for money, according to the council’s internal auditors.

The city council has teamed up with development company Grosvenor to build the 1,000 home development, which was given the go-ahead by a planning inspector last year.

PricewaterhouseCooper was asked by the city council to find out whether the joint venture was good value.

In its report the company says: “Good practice suggests that joint ventures should be entered where there are complementary objectives and where there is a shared viewpoint on the nature and scope of activities and the joint venture’s longer-term objectives and benefits.

“Our review shows the council’s procurement process is consistent with good practice.

“The council’s approach is centred around achieving value for money.”

Grosvenor and the city council created a limited liability partnership to form Barton Oxford LLP when the development company was chosen from 20 bidders in 2011.

While the city council provides the land, which it owns, Grosvenor supplies funds for the development. Parcels of the land would be sold off for development.

A planning application for the Barton West development is expected within the next six to eight weeks.