A SITE that once held a beloved community swimming pool is set to be transformed into affordable housing to help those ‘priced out’ of Oxford.

Campaigners fought for years to save Temple Cowley Pools, which closed in 2015, but councillors voted to approve plans for 48 homes on the Temple Road plot last year.

Work has now started on the new estate, which will be made up of three apartment blocks and a series of semi-detached and terraced houses. Developer Catalyst revealed 100 per cent of the scheme, due to be completed by autumn 2019, will be affordable.

Tom Titherington, executive director of property and growth at the company, said: “Delivering this 100 per cent affordable scheme in Temple Cowley demonstrates Catalyst’s ongoing commitment to deliver affordable housing to those that need it most.

“We will also be creating a new high-quality and well managed neighbourhood in this part of Oxford.”

From the new estate, 29 homes will be available for shared ownership and 19 for affordable rent, with the initial rents set at social rent levels.

When the application was originally considered by Oxford City Council’s east area planning committee in March 2017 Catalyst only committed to a 50 per cent affordable build.

Funding from government agency Homes England is being used for the additional affordable provision.

The scheme has been a long time in development, with Catalyst purchasing the site from Oxford City Council in December 2014 for £3.6m.

City council deputy leader Linda Smith said: “The city council’s sale of this site generated a valuable contribution towards the modern Leys Pool and Leisure Centre which is now being enjoyed by residents from across East Oxford and beyond.”

She said she was ‘delighted’ the site would have 100 per cent affordable housing, adding: “It will help residents currently priced out of Oxford’s expensive property market”.

Temple Cowley Pools was the subject of a long battle by campaigners trying to save and resurrect the pool facilities.

The fight went all the way to the High Court, but a bid to get the decision reviewed was thrown out by a judge in 2012.

Protesters argued the council had not made the correct decision in selling the site for housing.