£3.5m project will see 11 new housing units prioritised for care leavers, adults with learning, mental health and physical disabilities, as well as older people.
Wokingham Borough Council is seeking planning approval for an innovative new scheme to prove specialist housing right in the town centre – at rates people can afford.
Photo by Andrew Neel / Unsplash
If approval is granted, the project will see offices at Seymour House, off Denmark Street in the heart of the town, converted into 11 new housing units designed for people with specialist needs such as care leavers, adults with learning, mental health and / or physical disabilities, and older people.
The development will include on-site accommodation for care staff, and the first units could be ready for use as soon as summer 2027.
Being centrally located would mean residents of the new development could easily access services, and would also reduce reliance on costly out-of-borough placements. The new housing units will also be converted to meet energy efficiency standards, in line with the council’s wider targets.
The development is to be funded through £1.2m in grants from Homes England, £880,000 from developer’s contributions (through section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) and the rest through borrowing against rental income on council housing. It is expected that after paying that back, the housing units will save the council more than £220,000 each year in costs.
Once the units are complete, they will be managed by the council and allocated to eligible priority groups as per the council’s existing housing policy.
Cllr Stephen Conway, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council and Executive Member for Housing, says: ‘This project is a vital step in making sure vulnerable residents can live safely and independently in the heart of our community. By creating high‑quality, affordable homes with the right support in place, we are giving people the stability they need to thrive while also reducing our reliance on costly placements outside the borough.
‘This site will provide modern, energy‑efficient accommodation that reflects our commitment to both social responsibility and environmental sustainability. I’m pleased we can bring forward a scheme that improves lives, delivers better value for money, and keeps people connected to the services and support they rely on.’
Cllr David Hare, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Well-Being, adds: ‘People should be able to live in the place they call home, stay connected to the things and people that matter, and have the chance to lead the lives they want to live.
‘By developing modern, specialist, affordable homes in the town centre, we’re building on people’s strengths, keeping support close by, and using public resources in a smarter, more sustainable way. Most importantly, we are doing this by working with residents and partners as equals, listening to what matters to them, and shaping support that helps people live full, independent and fulfilling lives.’
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