By Cllr Jason Brock
The dire economic forecasts and the continuing cost of living crisis means it is now more important than ever that the Council continues to do everything it can to deliver more affordable homes in Reading.
I’ve written here before about how we make full use of the planning system to try to ensure developers give something back to Reading in terms of affordable housing contributions (as well as funding for infrastructure development like schools, parks and playgrounds, healthcare, and transport schemes).
The other way we are achieving affordable homes is through our own Council home building programme, which is the largest in our town for a generation.
At a Committee meeting this week, Councillor colleagues are due to authorise another £30 million investment as part of the fourth phase of this building programme.
Up until now, our new build programme (alongside acquisitions, because we do also purchase some properties) has delivered 234 new homes to the Council’s housing stock. This is in addition to 211 new homes which are in progress and due to be completed over the next three years.
In a tight urban area like Reading, where space is at a premium, we must be imaginative about how we go about it.
One way is by making the very best use of our own assets.
While a brand-new pool and flagship leisure centre for Reading is being built at Rivermead, more than 60 affordable homes are set to be built at the former Central Pool site off the Oxford Road.
The Battle Street development will include an older persons’ day centre, sheltered housing for over 55s, and supported living flats in addition to standard affordable properties.
And as we near completion of a brand-new modern community swimming pool at Palmer Park – which is due to open to residents in a matter of weeks now – a total of 15 one- and two-bedroom flats for key workers – social workers, nurses, teachers, police officers, and so on – are being constructed at the former site of Arthur Hill swimming pool.
Over at Wensley Road, the Council has embarked on a major scheme making the most of the space to deliver 46 new affordable homes, alongside a raft of estate improvements.
These larger developments aside, we are also being innovative and making resourceful use of unused space in existing Council blocks or within our estates – known as infill sites – so that we can build Council homes in places that aren’t immediately obvious candidates for development.
And as part of the fourth phase of our programme, heading to Wednesday’s Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee meeting, we are looking at another 87 new Council housing units.
These include the creation of around 30 affordable homes at the vacant Dwyer Road site and around 38 at Amethyst Lane, which could also include 14 respite units to support social care.
The final totals will doubtless change as both projects go through planning, but it’s an indication that we remain ambitious in pushing delivery of new homes forward.
It would be very easy for the Council to sit back and do nothing in the face of the ridiculous and uncontrolled runaway train of property prices and the extortionate cost private rentals, which is the story across the south east of the country in particular, yet we refuse to do that.
I know that we are facing an uphill battle against the national housing crisis, but every house we build is a home for an individual, for a couple, or for a family – and it’s a chance for them to stay in the town they love rather than having to choose to move elsewhere on the grounds of cost.
Cllr Jason Brock is the leader of Reading Borough Council and ward member for Southcote
