A local councillor in Wokingham recently visited an £11m social housing development in the Berkshire town to see how the work is progressing.
Sorbus House, under development by Abri, is nearing completion and will soon be ready for residents, the organisation says.
It consists of 38 one- and two-bedroom apartments that will be let at social rents; approximately 50% of local private rent. According to the Office of National Statistics, the average monthly private rent in Wokingham was £1,311 in May 2024.
Abri says the new homes will be a boost for people on the council’s waiting list, which currently has more than 2,500 people applying for social housing.
Councillor Lou Timlin, who represents Evendons Ward, where the development is located, said: “We know there is a genuine need for affordable housing with many local people unable to find properties they can afford within my ward.
“We need homes that don’t put unsustainable pressure on local infrastructure and so, although we have a very limited amount of brownfield land available locally, it’s great to see some of it used to help people to live in close proximity to shops and services.”
The homes have been built by Abri’s in-house construction team and will be ready to welcome tenants next month.
Planning permission was initially awarded for nine flats out of the 38 to be built as affordable housing. Abri has used its own funding alongside grant funding from its strategic partnership with Homes England to make all 38 homes affordable. To help lower the carbon footprint of the development, solar and wind powered street lighting is also being used.
Sam Stone, director of land and planning at Abri, said: “By working together with Wokingham Borough Council and listening to the housing needs of the community, we’re able to make the whole development affordable.
“Abri is committed to building good quality homes and we want to build at least 10,000 homes by 2030. Using our in-house construction team means we have full control of the build quality and we can take care of the details to ensure the finished homes meet the standards customers expect.
“We want to support local communities and we hope these new homes will enhance the local area and help the community to thrive.”
Main image: (Left to right) John Kelly, production director, Abri; Lou Timlin, Wokingham Borough Council; and Sam Stone, director of land and planning, Abri
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