Plans by Wokingham Borough Council to build new and more affordable homes in Hurst have taken a step forward following the submission of the planning application for the £2million scheme.
Statutory public consultation on the application for 11 new affordable homes in Tape Lane in Hurst runs until 14 October and people and groups are invited to look at the proposals and give their feedback.
The proposal is to demolish six council-owned properties in Tape Lane cul-de-sac and replace them with 10 new two and three bedroom houses and a bungalow.
The six existing ‘prefab’ homes were built just after World War II using Swedish timber, and were designed for short term use only to solve the post war housing crisis.
They now need significant expenditure to keep them in an acceptable condition (the Decent Homes Standard), and they would still be very expensive for residents to heat. The Decent Homes Standard is a legal requirement for public sector housing.
Being able to create more housing in Hurst also meets the aspirations of a number of local households on the housing register needing affordable homes. Once the new properties have been built they would be owned and managed by the borough council’s housing department.
The housing team has already been in contact with the existing ‘prefab’ tenants to discuss either temporarily rehousing them if they want to return to Tape Lane, or move them to permanent homes elsewhere.
The planning application outlines six three-bedroom houses, four two-bedroom houses, and a three bedroom bungalow – all with south facing gardens and parking spaces. Each house would also have a bin store and cycle shelter.
The existing brick semi-detached houses in Tape Lane would remain.
A public consultation event into the plans was held at nearby St Nicholas CE Primary School last summer, and the feedback from those who attended has helped shape the application now submitted.
Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “We want the best possible homes for our existing and future tenants.
“If this planning application is agreed, the area as a whole will benefit from much-needed affordable homes for more local families.”
To see and/or comment on the planning application, visit the planning portal on the borough council’s website and search for application number 162529.
