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.”
