Debate Erupts Over Declining Council Homes in Reading

Reading Borough Council is building new council homes, but the overall stock is falling as older properties are sold under Right to Buy.

The council's Local Authority Newbuild Housing Programme will deliver 362 council homes, with 204 still subject to feasibility. The biggest schemes are 190 homes at Dee Park and 14 to replace the old Southcote Library. The programme is worth £29.6 million.

The council expects 89 completions this financial year, including 42 at Hexham Road in Redlands, 17 at Amethyst Lane and 30 at Dwyer Road in Southcote.

Officials say the new builds are high quality, built to Passivhaus standards to help meet net zero targets and keep bills lower. The council won silver in the Local Government Chronicle housing category.

But opposition figures warn the total number of council homes fell by 38 last year, from 6,982 to 6,944, mainly because of Right to Buy. The Greens say that, while they welcome construction, the council isn't replacing homes fast enough and want the Labour government to act.

Deputy council leader Micky Leng hit back at critics, saying the council is building while attacking Liberal Democrat and Conservative records on council housing and criticising the damage done to council housing under David Cameron.

Despite the row, the policy committee agreed to press ahead with the newbuild programme.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter