Major disparities between white and ethnic minority residents in feelings of safety, cultural inclusivity, and financial security, the City Council’s annual survey reveals. It also captures the housing crisis’s impact, despite an overall satisfaction with the city.

Disparities by ethnicity

While 34% of ethnic minority respondents believe that “people being attacked or harassed because of their skin colour, ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation” is an issue, only 9% of white respondents believe so. 66% of ethnic minority respondents agreed with the statement that people from different cultural backgrounds got on well together where they lived, while 81% of white respondents agreed.

Residents from ethnic minorities showed lower satisfaction than white respondents – 52% versus 74% – with the City Council this year. There were no major differences between the two groups on this measure in 2023.

Additionally, Oxford residents from ethnic minority backgrounds have faced more significant financial difficulties than white residents. 24% of ethnic minorities surveyed believe the economy is “really struggling” compared to 10% of white residents surveyed. Moreover, ethnic minority residents of Oxford have had more difficulties buying or moving homes, paying for fuel and energy bills, having job security, and affording food.

Housing

The residents’ survey also revealed Oxford residents are dissatisfied with the level of house building in Oxford. Only 16% of the residents surveyed think that the Council is building enough homes, and only 14% felt that the Council was doing enough to combat homelessness.

The Council aims to resolve shortages in decent housing with its housing organisation OX Place that aims to build 2,000 new homes. However, the Planning Inspectorate has rejected the Council’s aims because these goals are far higher than those set by the standard method for determining housing needs. The Council is thus currently trying to determine the appropriate approach.

The Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said that while she is pleased by the overall positive view,  she acknowledges the housing crisis: “Everyone who lives or works in Oxford knows how bad the housing crisis is – we are all living through it every day. Building more affordable housing is my number one priority and one that we have been delivering on. Over the last five years, we have built or enabled 856 new affordable homes in Oxford.”

Overall statistics

The survey, conducted by the Oxford City Council annually, polled 899 residents who were selected to be demographically representative. 

Overall statistics are more positive. 70% of respondents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live, compared to 66% in 2023. Moreover, 54% were satisfied with the City Council’s decisions over the previous year, against 24% who were not. 

An overwhelming majority (90%) of Oxford’s residents feel safe in the city centre and residential areas during the day, compared to 70% feel safe at night. However, 43% say that the police and the City Council are not effectively addressing the problems of crime and anti-social behaviours.

Councillor Brown said: “What I most want to say to Oxford residents though is: we hear you. Oxford City Council will continue to fight to build new homes, create new jobs and seek fairer wages – and continue to deliver high-quality services to everyone in our city.”