A row has broken out over the boundary between Bracknell and Wokingham after a housing developer marketed homes in the wrong town. The Hill Group advertised its Elmstead development as being in Wokingham, despite the site being in Great Hollands, Bracknell.
The developer's website states: "Living at Elmstead puts you right at the heart of Wokingham's most beautiful outdoor spaces" and calls the scheme "located in the desirable Nine Mile Ride area of Wokingham". Images shown were of Great Hollands Recreation Ground, Buckler's Forest and South Hill Park - all in Bracknell Forest.
Bracknell MP Peter Swallow criticised the marketing and wrote to the developer. He said: "If you are going to build homes in Bracknell, do not sell them as being in Wokingham. It is dishonest and disrespectful." He added: "I am proud to be the MP for Bracknell, one of the original new towns built to address an urgent housing crisis following the second world war."
Hill Group founder and chief executive Andy Hill OBE defended the approach, citing postal addresses and planning descriptions. He said: "Having consulted with our marketing team, I can confirm that Bracknell Forest Council has assigned all homes within the development Wokingham RG40 postal addresses. This is why the development is marketed as such."
He also said: "Planning permission for the site also identifies its location as Beaufort Park, South Road, Wokingham, Berkshire."
On marketing by postcode he added: "Prospective purchasers typically search using postcodes and expect properties to be listed in line with their postal addresses." "The neighbouring Evergreen development shares the same postcode and is marketed in the same way."
Mr Hill acknowledged concerns about accuracy: "In relation to references on our website to specific outdoor spaces being in Wokingham, I have asked the team to review this to ensure all content is accurate and clearly presented."
Mr Swallow also raised earlier complaints about the site, writing: "Last year I wrote to you to raise the unacceptable deforestation at your Elmstead development in Great Hollands... Sadly it seems you were not content with disrespecting the forest. Now, the Hill Group is determined to disrespect Bracknell too."
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in Bracknell in January 2026 was £386,000, compared with £497,000 in Wokingham.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, in May 2024, Andy Hill was estimated to have a wealth of £520m. He was made an OBE in 2023 in the last New Year honours list made under Rishi Sunak's premiership. According to the citation, Mr Hill was given his honour for services to 'affordable' housing.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
