Last year (2008/09), 272 new homes were provided to people on the housing register, thanks to Slough Borough Council and its partnerships with housing associations.
The Slough homes, a mixture of flats and houses, were built across the borough and include two large extra care schemes for older people.
Four disused garage sites, previously owned by the Slough council, were also redeveloped.
The houses include 69 larger family homes of three bedrooms or more.
And the total also includes 24 homes with rents that are below ‘market levels’. These have traditionally only been available for key workers but, due to the current economic climate, have been made available to other residents who do not qualify for social housing but cannot afford to buy a home outright or raise a deposit for a mortgage.
Sharmina Jetha, Slough housing development officer, said: “At the beginning of the year our target was to have 152 new homes for people on the housing register.
“Due to stepping up our work with the Homes and Communities Agency and housing associations we have provided many more than our target.”
Councillor James Swindlehurst, commissioner for Slough neighbourhoods and renewal, said: “Since elected we have made it one of our priorities to build affordable and social tenure family homes throughout the borough to house those on our waiting lists.
“The innovative garage strategy has allowed us to develop underused land, while providing four and five bedroom houses which are difficult to provide on other sites.
“As the recession continues to bite, it will be more important than ever to continue building high quality family homes, which is why will continue working to supply quality social housing on land we own – like surplus sites as we review our assets; derelict areas – like some garage sites; or in major projects – like our regeneration schemes and as part of the plans for Slough Town FC’s new football ground.”
Slough Borough Council
