A HOUSING organisation is launching a community bid to transform a building in East Oxford into affordable homes.

Homes For Oxford wants to buy the Irving Building, a Victorian school building in Hertford Street.

It is owned by Cowley St John Parochial Church Council, a local educational charity.

The school was in full use until July 2015 for classes from St Mary and St John Primary School.

A statement from HFO read: “[Our] vision is to buy the building on behalf of the local community and convert it into a mix of affordable homes and a community hub. 

“Initial plans will be to build a terrace of new homes on Essex Street, and to convert much of the existing Irving Building to flats. 

“The Hertford Street side would be kept and transformed into a community hub and office space.”

The building is not yet up for sale.