This week a new development of key worker accommodation for hospital staff was officially opened at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, in a project supported by Oxford Hospitals Charity.

The first phase of the Ivy Lane development includes 90 fully furnished apartments, with a second phase set for completion in 2026. This will bring the total to 125 flats for at least 340 key workers, increasing the amount of on-site housing for hospital staff.

The charity’s CEO, Douglas Graham and Chair of Trustees, David Matthews, were at the official opening alongside Professor Meghana Pandit, CEO of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), Chair of OUH, Sir Jonathan Montgomery, housing association A2Dominion and housebuilder The Hill Group.

The ribbon was cut by one of the new tenants, Dorcas, who is a nurse at the Churchill Hospital, and senior representatives from all four organisations. 

Dorcas said: “I was previously in the old Ivy Lane flats and recently moved in here along with the rest of the tenants. The new flats are definitely an upgrade – I really love it.

“They are well-designed, spacious, and well-ventilated with bigger windows for more natural light. The facilities are excellent.

“I was surprised to see how this has made a significant improvement in the comfort and wellbeing of my family and I. When I'm back at home, I'm comfortable, and what I need is available for me. So, when I go back to work it has enabled me to work more effectively.”

Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, Chair of OUH, said: “We know that many staff face challenges in finding high-quality, affordable accommodation near the hospital. This is particularly true for new staff arriving in Oxford for the first time, as arranging suitable housing can be both daunting and time-consuming.

“We are therefore delighted to be able to provide affordable homes for our new staff. Helping them settle into the area is crucial. Being within walking distance of work, public transport routes, shops, and parks is very important and being able to quickly establish friendship groups within the buildings also makes settling into Oxford much easier too.

"Homes play a vital role in supporting both mental and physical health. On behalf of the Trust, I extend my gratitude to A2Dominion, The Hill Group, and Oxford Hospitals Charity for their essential support in making this project a reality.

"We are now looking forward to more staff moving in once the second and final phase is completed."

Douglas Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly proud to have worked with A2Dominion to deliver the new flats in Ivy Lane for OUH. This is a development that will provide much-needed, good-quality accommodation for our dedicated hospital staff for many years to come.

“The high cost of housing in Oxfordshire presents a real challenge, so having an affordable place to live that is close to work will be a great boost for many hard-working staff. Supporting those who care for us is at the heart of our charity, and it is wonderful to see it come to life.

“It’s been fantastic to see this development come together over the last couple of years and seeing the excitement of those who have recently moved in reminds us just how important and impactful projects like this are.”

Chris Ives, Managing Director of Development and Regeneration at A2Dominion, said: "We are delighted that phase one of our transformative project at Ivy Lane, aimed at building modern homes for key workers, is now complete. 

“A2Dominion has a strong track record of providing homes for our remarkable key workers, and we are pleased to have recently moved the last tenants from the previous flats to the new accommodation.

“We are now focusing on phase two, which will deliver more high-quality homes for OUH staff at Ivy Lane, with completion expected next year."

Ryan Harris, Regional Director (Western) at The Hill Group, said: “The completion of this first phase at Ivy Lane is another significant milestone for the project. We are proud to be delivering excellent energy-efficient accommodation for key workers at the John Radcliffe Hospital."

This is one of the many innovative ways our charity supports our local NHS hospitals, read more at Our latest funding | Oxford Hospitals Charity