46 new Council homes to be officially opened on Wensley Road estate

46 households from Reading’s Wensley Road community are moving in to modern new homes thanks to the completion of yet another successful Council new build project.

On Wednesday 28 January residents will be joined by Matt Rodda, MP for Reading Central, Councillors, council officers and the media to celebrate at the official opening of the new homes, which comprise two 4-bed houses, 26 3-bed houses, two 1-bed and two 2-bed wheelchair accessible ground floor flats, six 1-bed flats and eight 2-bed flats. Many are already occupied with the remainder allocated and soon to be filled.

The new homes form just part of a wider Wensley Road estate improvements project, which has seen a new play park opened, improved landscaping including new pathways, and new parking spaces and roads.

The regeneration project now continues with a series of additional projects due to start in September next year to enhance and update the three towers. They include:

• New windows for all flats
• Refurbished lifts
• Renewed heating systems
• Landscaping to areas around each tower
• An enclosed refuse facility
• Replacement of all outside insulation

The new homes at Wensley Road brings the number of new Council homes built for residents to almost 177 in the last five years, not including acquisitions. A further 362 across a number of additional sites have either begun or are being planned before the end of 2029.

All of the Council’s developments are part of a wider plan to increase the availability of affordable homes across Reading and will not only help to address housing need in Reading to ease pressure on the housing register, but also provide flexibility for current tenants to move to bigger homes as their families grow, and to downsize when the time is right.

Matt Yeo, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Housing, said:

“I’m delighted that this development is complete and many people are already enjoying their fantastic modern new homes which are of really high quality.

“I’m particularly pleased that all 46 homes are being occupied by residents who have already lived on or grown up in the neighbourhood, preserving the existing local community. These families have been able to watch – from their old homes – their new homes being constructed. They will now be able to see the continued improvements being made with the work to the towers over the next few years through the second phase of improvements.

“It’s also important that the homes we are providing continue to reflect our response to the climate emergency through environmentally-friendly features which will also help ensure energy costs stay as low as possible. I’m excited that our ongoing new build programme will continue to provide even more affordable homes for people in Reading in the coming years”.