Author: Craig Denford

Wokingham Housing (WHL) together with Wokingham Borough Council welcomes Prime Minister, Theresa May, to officially open its flagship, affordable housing development at Phoenix Avenue, Wokingham.

The Prime Minister met with residents, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor John Kaiser, staff and Councillors associated with the new Phoenix Avenue development to formally open the 68 houses and apartments scheme with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This was a proud day for Council owned housing development company Wokingham Housing, and its sister organisation, Berry Brook Homes, who own the development.

Following the opening ceremony Theresa May was taken on a guided tour of the development where she met with Phoenix Avenue resident Emma Jones, who invited  the Prime Minister into her home and told her what a real difference living in Phoenix Avenue was making to the lives of the individuals and families living in the new affordable housing development. When asked what she thought of her new home, Emma told the Prime Minister “We are so happy to be here, to be able to give our daughter a bedroom of her own and a garden to be able to play in. The first time I saw what was to be our new home I cried, I couldn’t believe that we were being given the opportunity to live here.”

As Theresa May walked around the rest of the estate she was spontaneously greeted by excited tenants and well-wishers, including six day old Ted Young who became an overnight star as a lovely photo was captured of him being cradled by the Prime Minister.

Housing remains a key concern for Theresa May and her Government and she said of Phoenix Avenue; “I was very pleased to be able to open this new development and hear from Emma just how much of a difference their new home has made to her and her family.  Phoenix Avenue is a great example of where Local Authorities and Housing Associations can work together to help provide the affordable homes needed within the local community – so I was delighted to see the positive impact that these 68 new homes are having for Borough residents.”

Councillor Alistair Auty, Chairman of WHL commented “We are enormously proud of Phoenix Avenue. It has taken a lot of hard work and determination to get us to this point. We are grateful to the Prime Minister for taking time out of her busy schedule to open the development and to shine a light on the importance of the work we are doing in the Borough to meet housing need. It meant a great deal to the staff that worked so hard to complete the scheme, Councillors who championed the development from the beginning and most importantly to the residents who live here. As an organisation WHL looks forward to being able to provide many more affordable housing developments like this one within the Borough over the coming years.”

This month marks the end of one era and the beginning of a new one at Phoenix Avenue, Wokingham. The formal burying of a time-capsule by former Eustace Crescent residents took place on a cold winter’s day, with a plaque commemorating the event and the plan for it to be dug up and opened in 50 years’ time in 2068! Former tenants, together with Council staff and representatives from Wokingham Housing (WHL) and Berry Brook Homes gathered to bury the time capsule.

The original idea of burying the time capsule came from the Norrey’s Community Association. It was the perfect way to share memories of the Eustace Crescent estate as well as giving a glimpse of the strong community that surrounded it.

Anna Holloway who was heavily involved in the community consultation for the regeneration of Phoenix Avenue; and is still an active member of the Norreys community, was given the honour of laying the time capsule that contained photographs, former residents’ written memories, newspaper clippings and a documented account of the Phoenix Avenue build. Anna said: “Eustace Crescent meant a lot to the local community and even after the regeneration has taken place it was important to us all to make sure that it is remembered”.

David Chopping, Chairman of the Berry Brook Homes Board, who is the landlord for the new homes at Phoenix Avenue, spoke at the event and said: “When Eustace Crescent was first built, it was lauded as an innovative scheme, and developed a real community spirit; unfortunately though the flats did not stand the test of time. Through a lot of hard work and determination we got to here, the completion of Phoenix Avenue, but we are nothing without the past that came before us. To the generation of 2068 I hope that the contents of the time capsule relay the sense of pride and community spirit we all feel”.

Berry Brook Homes has welcomed the first tenants to another new affordable housing development in Wokingham Borough

Delighted tenants have now started moving into Wokingham Housing’s (WHL) first completed affordable housing development of the year. The completed four homes in Shinfield were handed over to landlord Berry Brook Homes this January.

This £650,000 development consists of four, one and two bedroom apartments with large open plan living / kitchen areas and communal gardens. The development sits on what was previously poorly used amenity land that had a history of anti-social behaviour (ASB). The site was first drawn to WHLs attention by Shinfield North Councillor Parry Batth who thought the Council could solve a local ASB issue while also providing much needed affordable housing in the area. Councillor Batth commented “I am delighted that the local area has been able to benefit from the Council’s unique approach to development. WHL have been able to make better use of this piece of Council land to provide more affordable housing whilst also generating an additional income for the Council. For local residents it means that a once hot spot for ASB has been removed which enhances the area for all”.

Anson Crescent marks the first of a number of affordable housing developments due to be completed this year by WHL, where 2018 will see the Council owned development company begin and complete a further ten developments across the Borough. In total providing local people with nearly 70 additional homes for affordable rent and shared ownership.

Bill Flood, Managing Director of Wokingham Housing said, “It’s great to get the year off to a flying start by providing much needed affordable homes for rent in Shinfield. The soaring house prices in the Borough present a real challenge for a lot of people in being able to access decent housing that is affordable. So for WHL and its sister organisation, Berry Brook Homes, to be able to let these homes at around three-quarters of market rent levels gives a real helping hand to local people at the top of the Council’s housing register”.

Residents, staff and guests gather to celebrate the first tenants moving into a new affordable housing development in Wokingham

Delighted tenants have started to move into the new Phoenix Avenue development where the first 22 homes were handed over to the new landlord, Berry Brook Homes, on 24 May. The Worshipful the Mayor of Wokingham Borough Cllr Rob Stanton was present to welcome the first residents receiving the keys to their new homes, including Emma Jones and baby Sophie.

Emma said, “I cried with joy when I saw our new home. It’s beautiful. My partner Sam and I had been living in a converted garage before, so to be living in a brand new house is wonderful.”

The £13m scheme of 68 affordable homes for rent, in the heart of Wokingham’s Norreys community has replaced the former dilapidated Eustace Crescent blocks of flats.

Tenants will be moving into the new homes which are a mix of one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroomed houses in a phased programme over the next few months. The development is one of the first of its kind, commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council and built by Council-owned housing developer Wokingham Housing on behalf of Berry Brook Homes, also a Council-owned company that manages affordable housing.

Bill Flood, Managing Director of Wokingham Housing said, “You cannot beat the genuine appreciation that people have when signing up and being given the keys to their new home. The difference these homes will make to the lives of the new residents is what all the effort to get to here is all about.”