Berkshire Councils Team Up for Affordable Housing

Berkshire councils could team up to build more affordable homes, a report says.

The paper, due before Bracknell Forest Council's Berkshire Prosperity Board on Monday, recommends looking into a county-wide approach to boost social and affordable housing.

It warns affordability is a big issue: average house prices are about 8.9 times local earnings compared with a national average of 7.6. The figure ranges from 7.8 in Reading to 10.4 in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Council leaders are being asked to back a study across the six Berkshire authorities to examine barriers and see if working together could increase supply. It will look at unbuilt planning permissions, affordable homes secured through developer contributions, council-owned housing stock, and the role of housing associations and major developers.

Options include a shared Berkshire housing strategy, joint partnerships with developers and housing associations, or a Berkshire-wide organisation to work with investors and developers. If approved the study would start this month, with an interim report in November and a preferred option by December. The work would use existing resources with support from the Local Government Association's Council Housebuilding Support Service.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter